Pearl Harbor ship being sent to war zone
A Pearl Harbor-based warship is headed for waters near Afghanistan ahead of its normally scheduled departure date as part of the aircraft carrier USS John Stennis battle group.The Pentagon said the Stennis battle group will leave San Diego Monday to relieve the USS Carl Vinson battle group and keep three American carriers operating against the Taliban.
The Pearl Harbor-based cruiser USS Port Royal is part of the six ships that make up the Stennis battle group. The group is leaving well ahead of its scheduled January departure to have the Vinson rotated home by January at the end of its six-month tour at sea.
Three Pearl Harbor-based warships are part of the Vinson battle group.
They are the destroyer USS O'Kane and the attack submarines USS Key West and USS Olympia.
Men accused of attacking gay campers plead guilty
LIHUE >> Two Kauai men accused of attacking a group of gay campers at Polihale State Park May 26, yesterday pleaded guilty to a long list of charges to avoid prosecution for attempted murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence.Orion Macomber, 19, pleaded guilty to nine charges. Eamon Carolan, 18, pleaded guilty to seven. Both included assault, attempted assault, terroristic threatening and criminal property damage.
No one was injured in the attack on the camp. The mosquito netting on a tent was burned.
Testimony at a preliminary hearing showed Macomber, Carolan and two women friends were camped at Polihale, A group of gay men were at a nearby campground.
Before sunrise, Macomber and Carolan, who had been drinking heavily, poured kerosene on a tent and set it on fire, prosecutors said. The occupant of the tent put the fire out. A Tiki lamp was knocked over on a second tent and singed it.
Witnesses testified Macomber and Carolan also tried to run down several members of their group with a vehicle while yelling anti-gay remarks.
Police later found the two sleeping at their own campground.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 17.
UH, HPU to fund scholarships using $2 million trust bequests
The University of Hawaii-Manoa and Hawaii Pacific University have each received $2 million bequests from the Gertrude M.F. Moir Trust.Moir and her husband, John T. Moir Jr., established the trust in 1982, which provided income to their two children until they passed away. When Mildred "Babs" Moir Mason passed away in February, the trust was split equally between the two universities.
Both universities will provide $100,000 a year in scholarships to students who have performed community service or have work experience, a minimum 2.5 grade-point average at UH-Manoa or a 3.0 grade-point average for incoming freshmen. The scholarship is renewable for full-time students up to four years.
At UH-Manoa the bequest will provide 10 to 20 full scholarships each year, while at private HPU, the funds will be used for both partial and full scholarships.
UH President Evan Dobelle said: "This scholarship is unique precisely because it is not restrictive. Sometimes scholarships with especially narrow criteria cannot be awarded during a given semester because no students qualify and the donor was very specific in their intentions. But this scholarship is guaranteed to make a difference at its maximum level every year."
HPU President Chatt Wright said: "In the years to come, the scholarships will provide opportunities for many students to achieve their academic goals and prepare themselves to meet the challenges of our complex and changing society. We are grateful for this contribution."
Kuakini's MRI takes a better picture now
Kuakini Medical Center has moved "to the forefront in MRI technology" by upgrading its Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner, said Dr. Donn Kumasaki of the Kuakini Radiology Group.Kumasaki said a major benefit will be an increase in productivity because of an improved operator computer system with faster data and image processing.
"It means we will be able to see more patients per day," he said.
Kumasaki said the demand for MRI scanning is increasing to evaluate neurological disorders, such as stroke, and assess the musculoskeletal system.
Physicians can take more detailed scans of the abdomen because of the scanner's increased speed, Kumasaki said.
He said that previously the natural movement caused by breathing has hindered accurate imaging of the abdomen.
"During an MRI scan, patient motion drastically degrades image quality," he said.
But the new equipment, he said, "will have faster scan sequences, which will help us take pictures of the abdomen in seconds while the patient holds his or her breath to prevent any blurring from the breathing motion."
The upgraded MRI, which was done in two stages over 18 months, also will enable physicians to use magnetic resonance spectroscopy to characterize tumors, degenerative brain disorders and other diseases more specifically.
Kuakini upgraded the MRI last year to take advantage of diffusion-weighted imaging, which allows physicians to better differentiate between acute and chronic strokes.
>> The Hawaii Association for Career and Technical Education has named the following individuals as officers and director for 2001-2003: Al Valles, president; Charles Bocage, president-elect; Fred Browning, vice president for public relations; Dick Wong, vice president for membership; Ken Ito, vice president for legislation; Helen Hasegawa, secretary; David Murakami, treasurer; and Guy Shibayama, executive director. [Taking Notice]
>> Joseph Farber has joined 'Ao'ao O Na Loko I'a O Maui to assist in the planning and permitting of the Ko'ie'ie fishpond restoration project. Farber is an environmental planning consultant and author.
>> The Kuhio Homes Residents Association has received formal recognition from the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii's board of directors. The recognition allows residents to identify active leaders committed to improving the lives of community members. Newly elected officers at Kuhio Homes include Victoria Milo, president; Monica Jenks, vice president; Jocelyn Augustine, secretary; Monica Talo, treasurer; and Filisone Masita, sergeant-at-arms.
>> Lina I. Keopuhiwa, Katannya Kapeli and Michael Robinson have been awarded scholarships from the Kalakaua Foundation. Keopuhiwa and Robinson are students at Concordia University and Willamette University, respectively. Kapeli transferred from the University of Hawaii to Pacific University.
>> Fresh Start Inc. has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Jessie Ann Chalmers Charitable Trust. The nonprofit, structured, supportive living skills program will use the money to fund the Gender-Specific Women's Program-A Therapeutic Community.
>> Waianae Coast Community Mental Health Center Inc., Hale Na'au Pono, recently named the following individuals as officers for the 2001-2004 term: Flo Pell, president; Harrilyn Robello, vice president; David Gold, secretary; and Stephanie Miyamoto, treasurer.
>> Alan R. Kimi, James S. "Jim" Hiramatsu and Audrey Hidano have been named to the Maryknoll School board of trustees.
>> Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Honolulu has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Atherton Family Foundation and a matching grant of the same amount from NFL Charities. The money will be used to further mentoring programs in schools. Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Honolulu currently offers six programs in local schools and two at other community sites.
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 Police Department Crimestoppers
LEEWARD OAHU
HPD bike officer slides motorcycle down wet H-1
A 28-year-old solo bike officer was injured Tuesday night in the Waianae-bound lanes of the H-1 freeway after his motorcycle slid on the wet roadway.The accident occurred just before 8 p.m. near the Farrington Highway overpass near Leeward Community College, police said.
The officer was on his way to help a Kalihi woman whose car was stalled in the fast lane of the freeway, police said.
Police closed the freeway's left lanes from the H-2 merge to Waimalu for about two hours while they investigated.
The officer, who has been on the force for five years, was treated for injuries at the Pali Momi Medical Center and released last night.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Pahala farmer shot while inspecting his property
A 61-year-old Pahala man was shot in the leg Wednesday evening while checking on his farm in Kau, police said.Police responding to the 8 p.m. call said that about an hour earlier, the victim and a friend were inspecting the farm because of problems with people damaging property and stealing vegetables.
Police said the man's friend heard a shot and found him shot in the left leg.
The Pahala man was treated for a gunshot wound at Pahala Hospital, then was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where he was listed in stable but critical condition, police said.
He was scheduled to be transported to Queen's Medical Center for surgery.
Queen's would not confirm whether he was brought in.
Police were investigating the case as an assault and reckless endangering.
No suspect or suspects have been identified.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police ask for help to find missing Kaneohe woman
The Honolulu Police Department needs the public's assistance in finding a 46-year-old Kaneohe woman who was reported missing last month. Police said the brother of Carlene R. Torres had last seen his sister at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, just before he left their apartment.Crimestoppers
Carlene R. Torres, missing since Oct. 19, was a regular bus rider who usually boarded at the bus stop fronting Kaiser's Koolau Clinic.Police said Torres was suffering from personal problems and had recently lost her job. Police said Torres was also a regular bus rider who usually boarded at the bus stop fronting Kaiser's Koolau Clinic along Kamehameha Highway.
Torres is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 115 pounds, slim, with a tan complexion, brown eyes and thick, black shoulder-length hair. Anyone with any information can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
