Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, November 12, 2001

Legal Aid Society gets grants to fight abuse

The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii $249,449 to fund a child abuse prevention program and $96,296 for domestic assault victim services, U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink has announced.

The first award went to the Hawaii Navigator Project, which works to prevent child abuse and neglect, and reaches out to families using the Hawaiian healing process of hooponopono.

The second award went to the Hawaii Coalition Against Sexual Assault, a clearinghouse for information and coordinated sexual assault victim services for the state. The Legal Aid Society serves as the legal representative for the coalition.

The coalition will use the grant to develop and distribute brochures and educational materials on sexual assault issues, participate in task forces to develop social policies on the "age of consent," and organize a statewide conference on sex assaults.

High court acts against Maui lawyer in drug case

The Hawaii Supreme Court has issued a restraining order on Maui attorney Thomas R. LePage that restrains him from practicing law. LePage was recently convicted of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree.

On Aug. 14, 2000, LePage and client Ron J. McDermott were arrested after police officers stopped them in a pickup truck allegedly containing 15 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The Maui attorney will be unable to practice law until disciplinary proceedings against him are completed or until further order of the Supreme Court. The restraining order became effective last Monday.

UH, high school bands will perform at stadium

Hawaii's finest high school marching bands, along with the University of Hawaii Rainbow Marching Band, will be marching into Aloha Stadium tonight.

The Second Annual Meadow Gold Rainbow Invitational Marching Band Festival is being presented by the UH band and is the largest event of its kind.

Bands from Aiea, Farrington, Iolani, Kahuku, Kailua, Kalani, Kamehameha, Mililani, Moanalua, Nanakuli, Pearl City, Punahou, Roosevelt, Waialua and Waianae high schools will be participating in this year's festival.

Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students; children under 6 are free. They are available at the Aloha Stadium box office or through participating schools. The event starts at 5 p.m.

Man-of-war close Hanauma Bay

Winds and currents trapped thousands of Portuguese man-of-war and some box jellyfish in Hanauma Bay, prompting the city to shut the beach to swimmers this morning.

Over the past few days, "lots and lots and lots" of the stinging marine creatures have been spotted on Windward shores, said Jim Howe, ocean safety operations chief. Warning signs were posted at Kuuloa, Kailua, Bellows and Sherwood beaches, and at Waimanalo Beach Park, but the waters were not restricted. Howe said Makapuu had not been affected.

Howe said there were hundreds of the Portuguese man-of-war on the beach at Hanauma Bay this morning, and thousands in the water. Ocean Safety could reopen Hanauma Bay as early as this afternoon, Howe said.

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

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

1 woman dead, 5 hurt as rented SUV rolls over

HILO >> A 26-year-old woman from Samoa was killed and five others were injured Saturday night in a car accident along the Saddle Road.

Police said a rented 2002 Nissan Pathfinder driven by a 21-year-old Hilo woman was heading toward Hilo when it ran off the road and rolled over several times.

Police are investigating reports that one or two Kona-bound vehicles may have forced the Pathfinder off the road.

The accident occurred sometime before 6:11 p.m., when police got a call, at the 43-mile marker near the Girl Scout Camp.

The woman who was killed was a rear-seat passenger who apparently was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the sport utility vehicle, police said. She was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.

She and three other passengers, two 24-year-old women and a 20-year-old woman, all from Hilo, were students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. A 32-year-old woman from Oahu also was injured.

The injured passengers were taken in fair condition to three separate hospitals in Waimea, Kona and Hilo.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Officer Kenneth Quiocho at 326-4277 or the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332.

HONOLULU

Motorcyclist critical after crash on offramp

A 54-year-old Pearl Harbor man suffered massive head injuries yesterday after he crashed his motorcycle on the Ahua Street offramp of the H-1 freeway near Puuloa Road, police said.

The motorcyclist was riding his yellow 1995 Harley Davidson Sportster when he failed to negotiate a right turn in the roadway, hit the left curb and fell to the pavement, police said. The accident occurred at about 10:10 a.m.

The man was taken by ambulance to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. Police said speed did not appear to be a factor. The man was not wearing a helmet.

Makakilo gas station robbed; suspect hunted

Police today were looking for a 21-year-old man suspected of robbing an Arco gas station in Makakilo just before 8:30 last night.

The suspect had a rifle and told the 46-year-old cashier to hand over all the money or he would kill her, police said. The suspect took the money from the register and fled on foot, police said.

No arrests are made in Kapahulu shooting

A 26-year-old woman was shot in the face Saturday night by a man in his 30s, police said. The shooting occurred between 8:45 and 8:55 p.m. at Brokaw and Winam streets in Kapahulu.

Police said the woman was taken to an area hospital and treated for injuries.

No one was arrested.

Bar worker arrested in attack on co-worker

Police arrested a 34-year-old Honolulu woman after she allegedly slashed a co-worker with a broken beer bottle early Saturday morning.

The woman and a 23-year-old Kalihi woman were working at a Sheridan Street bar when they got into an argument, police said.

The suspect then reportedly grabbed a beer bottle, broke it on a table and struck the co-worker on the arm, cutting her.

The victim was taken to Straub Hospital, where she was treated and released.

Fire Department reports big drop in Hazmat calls

The Honolulu Fire Department has seen a dramatic drop in suspicious mail and unknown chemical substance calls since last Monday.

Capt. Richard Soo said the hazardous-materials units were responding to an average of 12 to 15 calls a day since Oct. 12.

Tuesday, there were four; Wednesday, two; Thursday, three; Friday, two; Saturday, four; and one yesterday.

LEEWARD OAHU

Husband allegedly attacks wife's boyfriend

Police arrested a 43-year-old man Saturday for second-degree attempted murder after he allegedly tried to kill his estranged wife's boyfriend Oct. 22 in Waikele.

Brandishing a hunting knife, the suspect forcibly entered the Waikele Road home of his wife at 8:35 a.m., police said.

The suspect threatened to kill the 40-year-old live-in boyfriend and struck him on the side of the head with the butt of the knife, police said.

The victim suffered cuts to his hand, wrist and chin.

The suspect fled. Crime Reduction Units located the suspect Saturday and arrested him without incident.

Man attacked and robbed in his home by 4 suspects

Police were investigating an Aiea robbery in which four suspects unlawfully entered the home of a 20-year-old man, assaulted him and took his cash and property.

The suspects in yesterday's 1 p.m. incident were described as three men in their 20s and a woman, about 35. One man was described as being 5 feet tall. Another was described as 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, wearing a black shirt and pants. The third male was described as 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, wearing an aloha shirt.

NORTH SHORE

Rescuers end search for woman lost in high surf

The Honolulu Fire Department and police have called off their search for a 20-year-old Massachusetts woman who was swept out to sea by high surf at Pupukea Beach Park on Thursday afternoon.

Fire rescue workers resumed their search at first light yesterday morning but found no sign of the woman, said fire Capt. Richard Soo.

Rachel Cardoza had been walking along the shore when she was pulled out to sea by 10- to 15-foot surf. Her boyfriend, 21, also from Massachusetts, tried to save her but to no avail.

Soo said police notified the woman's parents of the decision to call off the search.

The woman and her boyfriend had moved to Hawaii and planned to attend Leeward Community College.

WEST OAHU

Ewa man accused of pulling knife on neighbor

An Ewa Beach man "received a laceration in his leg" yesterday after wrestling with a neighbor who drew a knife from his waistband, police said.

At about 5:45 p.m. yesterday, the 40-year-old man was leaving his residence when the suspect approached. The 41-year-old suspect began mumbling and allegedly drew the knife and pointed it at his neighbor, police said.

The two men wrestled, and the victim was cut in the leg. He was treated at his home and was in good condition, police said. The suspect was arrested yesterday on suspicion of second-degree assault. Charges were pending.