UH mental study focuses on ethnic differences
An investigation to determine if differences exist between Caucasians, Asians and Pacific Islanders hospitalized for an acute mental illness will be conducted by Dr. Robert L. Anders, interim associate dean and professor, University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene.Anders received funding for the project through a larger award by the National Institutes of Health to the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
The grant for a "Hawaii Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program" went to Dr. Edwin Cadman, dean of the medical school. It will run from Dec. 1 through Nov. 30, 2004.
Anders' study, funded with $108,491 for two years, is aimed at achieving a better understanding of how sensitivity to ethnicity and culture could improve response to treatment and prevention activities.
Dr. Thomas Olson, associate professor in the nursing and dental hygiene school, will be project manager. Dr. Lon White, professor with a joint appointment to the medical school, will provide primary statistical and methodological input.
Summit to look at isles' uninsured population
A public policy summit will be held Nov. 29 at the Hawaii Convention Center to try to deal with a growing population here without health insurance.The Hawaii Uninsured Project is sponsoring the event from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., starting with a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
Convening the "action-oriented" meeting will be the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to raising the level of public decision-making in Hawaii.
Discussions will focus on long-term strategies over the next three years to address the increasing number of residents who have lost jobs and health insurance since the Sept. 11 attacks.
About one in 10 Hawaii people -- more than 120,000 -- now lack health insurance, according to the U.S. Census.
"It is not hard to imagine the adverse health effects faced by people without health insurance," said the Hawaii Uninsured Project Leadership Committee in a letter inviting key stakeholders and decision-makers to the summit.
"What is less known is that there is also a great societal impact. Hawaii's high number of uninsured reduces overall productivity in the workforce and creates higher health care costs for all -- costs that are eventually paid by health care professionals and facilities, health plans, employers, the insured and all taxpayers."
Doctor to discuss benefits of vegan diet
Dr. Bill Harris, a founding member of the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii, will discuss ethical, environmental and health benefits of a vegan diet and exercise at a society meeting Nov. 14.The event, open to the public at no cost, will be at 7 p.m. at the Ala Wai Golf Course clubhouse, 404 Kapahulu Ave.
Harris is author of "The Scientific Basis of Vegetarianism." He directed the Kaiser Permanente Vegetarian Lifestyle Clinic in Honolulu before retiring. For more information, call 944-VEGI (944-8344).
>> Les Ihara was named chairman of the Crime Victim Compensation Commission by Gov. Ben Cayetano. Ihara, a retired U.S. Army colonel, will serve as chairman concurrent with his reappointment to a second four-year term as a commissioner. [Taking Notice]
>> Brandon Kimura and Andrew Chan have been named to the rank of Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council. Kimura and Chan are members of Troop #35. Kimura is a student at Roosevelt High School. Chan, a graduate of Iolani School, attends UCLA.
>> Hawaii FFA Association president Heather Kihara was selected to attend this year's National FFA State Presidents' Conference. Kihara joined more than 100 state FFA officers at the conference, held July 23-29 in Washington, D.C. President George W. Bush met with delegates during the conference.
>> Fresh Start Inc. has been awarded a $1,000 grant from the Servco Foundation. Fresh Start, a supportive living skills program in Waipahu, plans to use the money to fund a newly created gender-specific women's program.
>> Randall Yamada and the team members of UH's Information Technology Demonstration Project were nominated for the 2001 Governor's Awards. Yamada, custodial supervisor at UH-Manoa, was nominated for the 2001 Distinguished State Service Award. Members of the ITDP included Debra Ann Ishii, Chase N. Kawakami and Eric Tanigawa. The team members were nominated for the 2001 Team Excellence Award of Merit. The nominees were recognized during the Governor's Award Ceremony held in October at the State Capitol.
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
Shots fired after highway egg-throwing incident
Two Kaneohe Marines were injured when a motorist fired two gunshots at them after an egg-throwing incident last night on the Likelike Highway.Police said the Marines, a 19-year-old man and an 18-year-old man, were traveling on Likelike Highway halfway between the Burmeister Overpass and the Wilson Tunnels when their car cut off a white pickup truck at about 9 p.m. The men told police they threw eggs at the driver of the pickup.
Police said the driver of the truck, described as a man in his 40s, then fired two shots shattering the car's window. Police said one man was injured by a bullet and the other by broken glass. No information on their condition was available early this morning.
The Marines continued driving to Kaneohe and reported the incident. Police have opened an attempted murder investigation.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island teenager killed crossing against light
KAILUA-KONA >> A 15-year-old boy died yesterday after he was hit by a car while trying to cross Kuakini Highway against a light, police said. The driver who hit him was suspected of drinking, they said.The victim, William Hamar of Kailua-Kona, was crossing the highway at the Nani Kailua intersection about 6:20 p.m. while his friends waited for the light to turn, police said. Hamar had a skateboard with him, police said, but it wasn't clear whether he was riding it.
He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m.
Hamar was hit by a 1976 Ford Bronco II driven by a 34-year-old Waikoloa man, police said. Neither he nor the 28-year-old woman riding with him were injured. The driver was arrested for negligent homicide, drunken driving, and driving without insurance and was released pending further investigation.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police arrest 2nd suspect in Aiea jewelry heist
Pearl City police arrested a second suspect yesterday morning who they believe was the gunman in the robbery of an Aiea jewelry store last summer.Police said the 37-year-old male surrendered quietly when officers confronted him at the Pearl City address where he was staying.
Police charged the other suspect in the case, 33-year-old Edward Benson, with first-degree robbery in August.
Both men are believed to have robbed the JT Jewelry Store in the Pearl Kai Shopping Center on Aug. 12 while pretending to be customers.
Police say so far, they have not been able to recover any of the estimated $5,000 worth of gold bracelets stolen.
Pearl City death caused by motor vehicle collision
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office has determined that a 20-year-old male found in Pearl City Monday night was hit by a motor vehicle.The victim, identified as Atlast A. Ander, was found in the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Hekaha Street and later died of his injuries at the Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi.
Police at first said they were unsure of how Ander was injured because of conflicting witness statements. Police said some witnesses said Ander was beaten, then collapsed, while others said Ander was the victim of a hit and run accident.
Yesterday, the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Ander's cause of death was multiple internal injuries due to a motor vehicle collision.
Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call traffic investigators at 529-3499.
[The courts]
Maui man pleads not guilty in death of wife
WAILUKU >> A Wailuku man is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 14 in the death of his wife, after the pickup truck he was in overturned near the Maui Humane Society's animal shelter two years ago.Guy P. Souza Jr., 21, had his bail continued at $25,000 Tuesday, after pleading not guilty to first-degree negligent homicide, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Souza's wife, Maribel, died after the pickup he was driving went out of control and overturned on Mehameha Loop near Mokulele Highway on July 29, 1999, police allege.
The prosecution alleges that methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found in Souza's possession.
Former teacher denies guilt in sex assault of girl
WAILUKU >> A former school teacher is scheduled to stand trial on Jan 22 in Maui Circuit Court on a charge that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl.Robert J. Plouffe, 42, a former teacher at Maui Waena Intermediate School, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the charge of continuous sexual assault of a minor under age 14.
According to a grand jury indictment, the alleged assaults took place from January through April at a Pukalani residence.
The girl is related to Plouffe.
Defense attorney Hayden Aluli said Plouffe stopped working as a teacher for the state effective May 1.
