A 25-year-old man was taken by helicopter to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition last night after his Honda collided head-on with a pickup truck on Goodale Avenue, near the intersection with Waialua Beach Road. Man critical after auto crash
The injured man was driving a 1988 Honda CRX, traveling southbound on Waialua Beach Road approaching the intersection, police reported.
The driver, traveling at a high rate of speed, attempted to turn right westbound on Goodale Avenue and crossed head-on into the pickup truck driven by a 44-year-old man, police said.
The man in the Honda, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, suffered serious injuries to his face and body, according to police. The driver in the pickup wasn't injured.
It isn't known if alcohol was involved, police said. Neither vehicle had an air bag.
Hospice of Hilo has opened a hospice residential unit at Hilo Medical Center. Hospice of Hilo opens unit
at Hilo Medical CenterHospice programs focus on managing pain, making a terminally ill patient as comfortable as possible and providing emotional, social and spiritual support to the patient and family.
Although most patients receive hospice care in their own homes from a team of physicians, registered nurses, nursing aides, medical social workers, chaplains and volunteers, some patients are better served in a hospital environment, officials said.
To meet that need, Ron Schurra, Hilo Medical Center's chief executive officer, and Brenda Ho, Hospice of Hilo executive director, worked together to establish a special two-room pavilion on the hospital's third floor.
The remodeled rooms are equipped with homelike furnishings with hide-a-bed couches in an alcove for family members so they can be comfortable while patients have the hospital's support. "We are pleased to partner with Hospice on this very important service in our continuum of care for our patients," Schurra said.
Hospice of Hilo nurses, social workers and other team members will continue to care for the patients, but the hospital staff will be available if needed.
Ho said the collaborative arrangement "is the kind of innovative strategy that serves the best interests of our patients. This is the sort of creative problem-solving that the public expects of the medical and health care communities."
For more information, call the medical center's community relations department at 974-4738.
Road to Mauna Kea closed because of ice
HILO >> The access road to the summit of Mauna Kea will be closed above Hale Pohaku at least through tomorrow morning due to ice, Mauna Kea Support Services said.The steep nature of the road combined with ice make it extremely dangerous without studded tires or tire chains, Support Services said.
Observatory personnel, who have vehicles with such tires, can still go to the summit for observatory maintenance, although stormy weather with winds gusting up to 90 miles an hour make nighttime viewing unlikely.
Snow was likely at Mauna Kea summit, but the 9,000-foot middle-elevation level of Hale Pohaku was being battered by sleet last night, a spokesman said.
Dean of UH-Manoa's School of Nursing resigns
The dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa's School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene has resigned after nine years.Under Rosanne Harrigan's leadership, the school has seen increased enrollment, the implementation of a doctorate program in nursing and a rise in national ratings for both the nursing and dental hygiene departments.
During her tenure, state funding for the school continually declined, but extramural funding increased by 76 percent, allowing for increased access, quality, diversity and breadth of the programs.
Harrigan also maintained a funded research program focused on improving the health of at-risk families and increasing the diversity and size of the nursing work force.
Harrigan, who has kept a practice at the Waimanalo Health Center on Saturdays, will continue to look for developmental challenges in her profession.
A search committee will be appointed in January to seek a new dean for the school.
Land board to consider Ala Wai privatization plan
The state could move a step closer to privatizing Ala Wai Boat Harbor tomorrow, as the Board of Land & Natural Resources considers advertising for companies to manage its 799 boat slips there.The board's regular meeting starts at 9 a.m. in Room 132 of the Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl St. There are more than 40 items on the agenda before the Ala Wai item, but the board often moves items with high interest to the early part of the meeting.
David Parsons, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation special projects officer, said staff is recommending the privatization.
State facilities at the Ala Wai need about $56 million of improvements over the next 20 years, and even if slip fees are increased, they will not cover the cost, he said.
A private operator with a long-term lease would be allowed to develop related businesses, such as a restaurant, to bring in more income, he said.
The state Legislature set the stage with legislation earlier this year for what could be the first transfer of a state boat harbor to private hands.
Isle businesses to get lesson in Terrorism 101
Law enforcement officials will present information tomorrow to help businesses and the community in preparing for terrorist threats and attacks and natural disasters.The presentation will focus on what to do, where to go, whom to call and where to find accurate information, as well as deterrence and preventing complacency.
The Hawaii Joint Police Association will host a meeting tomorrow from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Honolulu Country Club. Registration and continental breakfast are at 7:30 a.m.
The meeting is open to the public for $12, including breakfast.
If you plan to attend, call Rene Mansho at 306-1876.
2 isle residents charged with bankruptcy fraud
A federal grand jury has indicted two Hawaii residents and a California resident for failing to disclose significant assets in their personal bankruptcy filings here.Renie Park, 32, of Honolulu; Kathleen Griswold, 39, of Kailua-Kona; and Nicole Weldon, 36, of California each were charged with bankruptcy fraud in U.S. District Court yesterday.
Park is charged with failing to report $77,000 cash and $95,000 in jewelry contained in a safe deposit box she owned.
Griswold failed to disclose $42,000 cash in a safe deposit box she owned.
Weldon is charged with not reporting a $100,000 settlement she received from a lawsuit.
Bankruptcy fraud is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000.
Accountant pleads guilty to tax evasion charges
Honolulu accountant Raymond Nip pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for tax evasion.In his plea agreement, Nip said he failed to report his total income of $533,784.07 earned from his accounting practice on his tax returns for years 1993-1997, said U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo.
Of that figure, Nip failed to report a total of $202,896.79 in payroll taxes that was collected from a corporate client.
Also, an additional tax of $212,875 was owed to the Internal Revenue Service.
Nip will be sentenced on May 13 by Chief U.S. District Judge David Ezra. He faces a maximum jail term of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.
>> An editorial on Sunday stated that former Mayor Frank Fasi ordered city employees in 1993 to contribute money to his campaign fund. The order came from a top-level administrator in the Fasi administration, and Fasi denies having authorized the order or having knowledge of it. Corrections and clarifications
>> The photo of Hawaii basketball player Mark Campbell on Page B8 Monday was taken by Dennis Oda. The photo credit incorrectly listed George F. Lee as the photographer.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Police ID traffic victim as resident of Pahoa
HILO >> The victim of a fatal one-car Big Island traffic accident Sunday has been identified as Rigoberto C. Rodriguez, 47, of Pahoa, police said.Phone calls from the public helped identify the victim, police said.
Rodriguez, driving a 1988 Plymouth sedan, was thrown from the car after it went off Pohoiki Road about 11:24 p.m. and hit a utility pole.
Big Isle officers warn of telephone scam
HILO >> Big Island police are warning residents about an apparent telephone scam that promises big winnings in exchange for a check.
Police said a South Kohala resident had received a phone call telling him he had won a $1.5 million lottery. By sending a cashier's check for $499, he was told, he would receive $60,000 a week tax-free until he reached $1.5 million.
The man was told to send the money to Joel Meredith in Minister, British Columbia, and was given an 800 number to call.
Officers called the number but could not reach anyone. They concluded the offer was a scam. Police advised anyone losing money in such a scam to call the U.S. Secret Service in Honolulu at 808-541-1912.
WINDWARD OAHU
Hauula man hospitalized after beaten with rocks
A fight involving four suspects and a 22-year-old Hauula man landed the man in the hospital with a possible skull fracture, police said.Police said that at around 1 a.m. yesterday, two men argued at a lot near 56-576 Kamehameha Hwy. in Kahuku. One of the men left the scene and returned with three others, and the group allegedly beat the victim using rocks, police said.
The victim's condition was not disclosed yesterday.
Investigators say fire was result of arson
Honolulu Fire Department investigators have determined that a fire that killed two horses in a stable at Maunawili Farm last month was arson.Investigators found evidence that an incendiary liquid was used to start the fire on Nov. 27, the Fire Department said yesterday.
Six engine companies and a battalion chief responded to the 10:53 p.m. alarm at 1015 Auloa Rd. By the time the first unit arrived, fire officials said, the stable was engulfed in flames.
West Oahu
CrimeStoppers asks help in identifying bank robber
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department need the public's assistance in identifying a man who robbed the Pearlridge branch of Central Pacific Bank, located at 98-150 Kaonohi St., on Tuesday.Police said the suspect was seen in the area on a mountain bike for several minutes prior to the robbery.
Police said the suspect entered the bank and demanded money from the first open teller and then repeated the demand at the next open teller. Police said the suspect was armed with a small black revolver.
The suspect fled on foot and possibly a bicycle. He was last seen near the Moanalua Loop bicycle area.
Police described the suspect as a male in his late 20s to early 30s, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, 180 pounds, cleanshaven, with short brown or blond hair and a fair complexion.
Police said the suspect has an athletic build and was last seen wearing a black bicycle helmet, tinted glasses, dark T-shirt and jeans, biker gloves, athletic shoes and a piece of white tape on his right cheek.
Police also said the suspect had a yellow backpack and possible mountain bike.
Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
