Hawaii consumers can learn about legal protections for health insurance coverage by logging onto a new Web site, www.healthinsuranceinfo.net. New Web site tells
consumers how to acquire
and keep health insuranceStar-Bulletin staff
The Georgetown University Institute for Health Care Research and Policy developed the Web site to tell consumers how to get and keep health insurance.
Although most Hawaii residents have health insurance, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the institute said, "Changing economic and personal circumstances put people in frequent jeopardy of losing their health insurance coverage."
"Consumers often don't realize that events like divorce, changing jobs or even having a birthday can affect their health insurance coverage," said Karen Pollitz, project director at the institute in Washington, D.C.
The Web site provides guides for all 50 states and the District of Columbia with a glossary of insurance terms and complete information about consumer protections and eligibility.
The guide answers questions about group health plans, pre-existing conditions, self-employment, plan choices and more. It is not affiliated with any insurance companies and does not accept advertising.
Funding for the Web site was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, dedicated to improving the health and health care of Americans.
North Shore beaches close due to high surf
Civil defense officials closed Oahu's North Shore beaches yesterday because of high surf that was washing over the highway in some areas.The National Weather Service issued a high-surf advisory for the northwest shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and the Big Island.
Wave heights on the north shore of Oahu reached 10-20 feet, said Paul Takamiya, a spokesman for Oahu Civil Defense.
Water also was washing onto Kamehameha Highway near Laniakea between Haleiwa and Waimea Bay, he said. The high surf conditions also affected the upper Windward coast of Oahu, Takamiya said.
Military spending in isles
Hawaii will receive $382.8 million for construction at state military installations in the 2002 fiscal year, U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye's office has announced.
pegged at $382.8 million for FY '02Among the larger projects, the Army will receive $50 million for a barracks complex for 192 personnel at Wheeler Army Air Field, and the Navy and Marine Corps will receive $47 million to replace 172 family housing units at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
Under the Fiscal Year 2002 Military Construction Appropriations Bill, enacted Nov. 5, Hawaii is receiving $42 million more than last year, Inouye's office said.
"The construction projects will provide work for Hawaii's construction industry, and the economic benefits will trickle down to other sectors," Inouye said last week. "Most importantly, this spending measure will improve housing conditions for service men and women who, at this very moment, either stand ready or are deployed to defend our nation."
Oahu, Big Island K-5 teachers
The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education invites Oahu and Big Island elementary school teachers, grades K-5, to participate in a series of fine-arts standards-based professional development workshops.
invited to fine-arts workshopsThe series is called "Making Sense of the Arts in the Curriculum." The workshops are aligned with the new Department of Education requirements for the Professional Development Credit Program.
Coming up next month is "Literacy to Life! A Dramatic Approach," featuring instructor Daniel Kelin II, director of drama education with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth.
The workshop will be held Dec. 6 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Education Department Lecture Room, and Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East Hawaii Cultural Center, Multipurpose Room, on the second floor.
The workshop costs $15.
To register, call Lei Ahsing, program coordinator of the Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education, at 941-2787, or e-mail haae@aloha.net.
Classes offered in Kona for teaching certificate
KAILUA-KONA >> The University of Hawaii's College of Education will offer classes in Kona leading to a Certificate for Secondary Education in 2002-2003, the school announced.The classes will be offered through the UH Center, West Hawaii, assisted by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor obtained by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. The program requires 18 to 27 students. Interested persons holding a bachelor's degree should apply by March 1 by calling 322-4856 or 327-4991.
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 staffCENTRAL OAHU Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Prison officials request help in locating escapee
CrimeStoppers and the state Department of Public Safety are asking the public for help in locating an inmate who escaped from Waiawa Correctional Facility last weekend. According to CrimeStoppers officials, Joseph Kalani Lynch fled on foot Saturday at 10:50 a.m.
Lynch was last seen heading in the makai direction toward the Pearl City industrial area. Police said Lynch has been convicted of seven burglaries and driving a stolen vehicle. They said Lynch, 31, frequents the Windward and North Shore areas of Oahu.
He is described as 5 feet 5 inches, 136 pounds, with short black hair and several tattoos. Police said Lynch has a tiger tattoo on his left shoulder, a lion tattoo on his right and a large "picture" on his back. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Convict is sought after violating terms of parole
Public Safety officials are looking for Patrick Peletisara Molioo, who is wanted for a Nov. 8 parole revocation warrant. Police believe that he is armed with a handgun.
According to police, Molioo has been convicted of burglary, driving a stolen vehicle and drug promotion. Police said Molioo is known to frequent the Wahiawa, Mililani and North Shore areas as well as the Waianae Coast.
Molioo, 28, is also known as Pat, Jason Lau or Paulmolico. He is described as 6 feet 4 inches, 245 pounds, with a muscular build and a "USO" tattoo on the back of his neck. He has other tattoos on his arms, legs and chest. Police said he was last seen operating an older-model American van.
Anyone with any information about Molioo is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
LEEWARD OAHU
Victim in Sunday shooting dies; police hunt suspect
Honolulu police are looking for a 25-year-old male suspect they believe shot and killed a Waipahu man Sunday night. The victim, Shane Takeuchi, 24, died this morning at Queen's Medical Center from a gunshot wound to the back.Police said the suspect was alone in a Lumihoahu Street home in the Seaview subdivision with the victim when witnesses heard a gunshot. Police said that both victim and suspect were wrestling prior to the shooting. Police said the suspect fled on a motorcycle before officers arrived.
HONOLULU
Suspects in cockfighting death turn themselves in
Three suspects in a beating death of a 39-year-old man turned themselves in to police yesterday.The 33-year-old Kaimuki man, his 30-year-old cousin also of Kaimuki and a 34-year-old Kalihi man allegedly assaulted two other men after a cockfight at a home on Bannister Street in Kalihi Friday night.
The two victims suffered severe head injuries and were taken to Kaiser Medical Center.
Leon Fernandez, of Kaneohe died Saturday of his injuries. A 41-year-old Waipahu man is in guarded condition.
WAIKIKI
White powdery substance used in extortion attempt
Honolulu police are investigating an extortion case in which a "white powdery substance" was used.Police said workers at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., received a letter yesterday morning addressed to the Housekeeping Department which contained the white powder and an extortion letter.
Police said the letter contained threatening statements and a demand for $250,000. Police would not provide specifics about what the letter said or what the white powder was.
