Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Saturday, May 26, 2001

Floating lights to honor dead on Memorial Day

One thousand lanterns will be set afloat at Keehi Lagoon on Monday in a ceremony that will combine the Buddhist Obon season with the American tradition of remembering the dead on Memorial Day.

Local members of Shinnyo-en, an international Buddhist lay organization, will launch the lanterns at 6 p.m. in a ceremony open to the public. The lights in the Toro Nagashi ritual are symbolic guides to lead the souls of the dead to the world of spiritual comfort.

JUST A LITTLE ON EDGE

BARRY MARKOWITZ, SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
The Polynesian Cultural Center's $2 million improvement to draw more
visitors had an uninvited guest Thursday night as a driver, at right,
went off the road and landed in a seesaw-like position on
boulders involved in the construction.

Hawaii seat belt use at more than 80 percent

WASHINGTON >> Only three states met or exceeded the government's goal last year of getting 85 percent of drivers and their passengers nationwide to use their seat belts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported yesterday.

California at 88 percent, New Mexico at 86 percent and Maryland at 85 percent led the nation in seat belt use, while three states -- New Jersey, Alabama and Michigan -- experienced sharp increases after enacting tough seat belt laws.

Hawaii, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington all reported use rates greater than 80 percent.

State on the lookout for tainted cantaloupes

The state Health Department is checking local retailers for a brand of cantaloupe linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning in 14 states, including one case in Hawaii.

But department officials said yesterday that none of the Viva brand cantaloupe have been found among Hawaii's large produce distributors and supermarkets, but they will continue to check small retailers. The isle salmonella case involved a tourist, and Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said the department suspects the tourist ate the fruit in another state before coming to Hawaii. The Centers for Disease Control are investigating.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that the cantaloupes imported from two Mexican firms have been associated with illnesses due to the salmonella poona, which can cause sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems.

Cayetano will sign 'hate crimes' bill

Gov. Ben Cayetano says he will sign the "hate crimes" bill passed by the Legislature.

It gives longer sentences for crimes motivated by the victim's race, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.

Cayetano said while he has concerns about making distinctions between victims, in this case he feels there is a statement to be made. He said his decision was a "close call" because he does not believe Hawaii has a problem with hate crimes -- yet.

The hate crimes bill was supported by gay and lesbian groups and several civil rights groups. It was opposed by the public defender's office, the Police Department and several religion-based groups.

Corrections and clarifications The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Alleged burglar injured after victim fights back

A 47-year-old Laie man was arrested for burglary after he was treated for a head injury following an argument with his landlord.

The man went to his landlord's half of a duplex, forced his way into the unit and started punching the 55-year-old woman.

They had gotten into an argument earlier in the day. Police said the woman struck the man in the head with a lamp in self-defense.

A neighbor arrived and persuaded the man to leave the landlord's unit. When police arrived they found the man bleeding profusely from his head injury.

The man was taken to Castle Medical Center for treatment and arrested when he was released.

2 arrested on charges of cashing phony checks

Two people were arrested on forgery charges yesterday for allegedly cashing counterfeit checks from Neiman Marcus at two different establishments.

A 36-year-old Waipahu woman was arrested for a check cashed on May 18 at Sunny Mart in Kalihi.

And a 36-year-old Waipahu man, of a different address than the woman, was arrested for a check cashed May 7 at Times Super Market's Waipahu store.