No new cases of dengue fever have been confirmed as the state vector control crews work to eradicate mosquitos around areas where 48 cases have been confirmed. Number of confirmed
dengue cases stabilizesCurrently, there have been 45 confirmed cases on Maui, one in Kaneohe and two on Kauai, according to the state Department of Health.
The number of cases that have tested positive on preliminary screening tests is down to six, from 20 on Friday.
An additional 246 reports of the illness still are under investigation.
State vector control personnel are continuing aggressive mosquito control measures, treating more than 200 areas statewide over the last four days.
CDC Dengue Fever page
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/dengue/index.htmState Dengue Fever page
http://www.state.hi.us/health/dengue/index.html
Boy halfway to $10,000 goal for attack victims
Rochan Pinho, a 10-year-old boy with terminal cancer, has challenged other Hawaii residents to match his $10,000 fund-raising goal to aid the Sept. 11 relief effort.He is already halfway to his goal, and hopes to reach the mark by his birthday, Oct. 30.
Pinho, a fifth-grader at Pearl City Highlands Elementary School, has been printing, punching and peddling patriotic buttons since shortly after the terrorist attacks.
He has raised $5,000 so far by setting up tables in front of the Longs Drug Store in Pearl City Shopping Center, Sam's Club, Windward Mall and Liberty House at Ala Moana.
Pinho said he has sold more than 1,000 buttons, sometimes by working six to 12 hours a day.
"It took me about two weeks to press all the buttons," he said. "I want people to match my donation."
Pinho has received a letter of commendation from New York Gov. George Pataki and is scheduled to meet with Gov. Ben Cayetano on Monday.
As for making the actual donation, Pinho said he was hoping to entrust that duty to someone else.
"I was going to see if I could get a chance to meet (talk-show host) Rosie (O'Donnell) and leave all the money to her," Pinho said.
4 caught selling untaxed tobacco
Four people have been arrested in the past week for selling untaxed cigarettes, a violation of Hawaii's tobacco tax laws.The arrests, two at Lingayen's Fish Market in Pearl City and two at Tuli's Grocery and Bakery in Waipahu, were part of an ongoing investigation by the state Attorney General's Office into violations of the state's new cigarette tax stamp law, which requires each pack to have a stamp on the bottom to show the cigarette tax had been paid.
"This shows the pervasive and continuing violations of the tobacco tax laws by so-called legitimate businesses," said Attorney General Earl Anzai, who announced the arrests yesterday.
Tax stamps were required on the bottom of each pack starting Jan. 1, and all cigarettes sold at retail had to have a stamp beginning April 1. Violations are felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Since April 1 more than 300 stores statewide have been inspected, and 25 individuals connected to 15 businesses on Oahu and Kauai have been arrested.
Lectures to address medical concerns
The Honolulu Medical Group is offering the following free public lectures to help residents live healthier lives:>> Friday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., "Diabetes Concerns for the Pacific Islanders."
>> Oct. 24, noon to 1 p.m., "Diabetes -- Fine-Tuning Your Management."
>> Nov. 7, noon to 1 p.m., "A Fresh Start for Your Skin."
>> Nov. 13, noon to 1 p.m., "Is It Alzheimer's?"All lectures are in the third-floor Physicians Lounge at the Medical Group, 550 S. Beretania St.
Reservations are recommended. Call 537-2211, ext. 581.
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. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Halawa inmate hangs himself in his cell
An inmate at the Halawa Correctional Facility died yesterday of an apparent suicide.The 47-year-old man was found hanging in his cell at 11:40 a.m. He was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi where he was pronounced dead.
His identity had not been released this morning.
EAST OAHU
Single-car crash kills man, 53, in Hawaii Kai
A 53-year-old man was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Queen's Medical Center yesterday after being critically injured in a car accident along Hahaione Street.Police said the victim was heading south toward Hawaii Kai Drive about 1 p.m. when his car struck a parked car, hopped the curb, ran over a tree and then flipped over.
Police said speed appears to be a factor in the crash.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
South Kohala man dies in head-on collision
KAWAIHAE, Hawaii>>A 24-year-old South Kohala man died yesterday morning following a head-on collision along Highway 19 in Kawaihae Sunday afternoon, police said.The victim was identified as Jason Phillips of Waimea. Police said Phillips' Harley Davidson motorcycle crossed the centerline about 4 p.m. and collided with a 1994 Honda sedan.
Police said Phillips was not wearing a helmet. He was taken to the North Hawaii Community Hospital and later flown to Queen's Medical Center where he died.
The driver of the Honda was not injured.
