Molokai boater gets help after craft takes on water
A 28-foot fishing boat was taking on water yesterday morning off Cape Halawa on the east end of Molokai, a Coast Guard official said.The boat, the Davy Argo, began taking on water at 9 a.m., and the boater had been pumping water all day, Coast Guard officials said.
The boater contacted the Coast Guard using his cell phone about 3:15 p.m.
The Coast Guard launched a rescue helicopter from Barbers Point at 3:49 p.m. and dropped off a pump and a radio after spotting the boat.
The boater, a 57-year-old Molokai fisherman, declined further assistance and decided to spend the night on the boat and return to Kaunakakai in the morning.
The fisherman, contacted on his cell phone, told the Star-Bulletin last night: "It was a little scary, but everything's all right now. Everything's dry."
Blood Bank requests New Year blood donors
The Blood Bank of Hawaii is encouraging people to start the new year by donating blood to help Hawaii's patients.Those who donate blood during January will receive a 2001 Lifesaver certificate.
"The new year is a time when many people resolve to perform community service and give back to their community and help others," said Blood Bank of Hawaii President Dr. Robyn Yim.
"A single blood donation can help save up to three lives, and it only takes an hour," she said. "There aren't many ways to make such a dramatic impact in the lives of others in such a short amount of time."
In January, blood usage is usually higher than any other month.
Blood donors must be in good health, 18 years of age or older, weigh 110 pounds or more and bring a valid photo identification.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 845-9966 or visit www.bbh.org.
Weather Service warns of high north and west surf
The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning for today. Surf on the north- and west-facing shores was expected to be between 15 and 25 feet.Waves were between 20 and 30 feet yesterday, according to the weather service. The northwest swell should peak tomorrow and slowly decrease, weather service officials said.
Annual hula event to be held on Kauai
The Fifth Annual E Pili Kakou I Ho'okahi Lahui Hula Retreat will be held Jan. 11 and 12 at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club.The retreat will feature some of Hawaii's premier kumu hula, or teachers of hula, including Keala Ching and the Lim family of the Big Island; John Kaimikaua of Kauai; Rita Moon of Lanai; Charles Kaupu and Thaddius Wilson of Maui; Uncle George Holokai, Sonny Ching, Kapiolani Hao and Frank K. Hewett of Oahu; Doris Yaris and Nathan Kalama of Kauai; and Aunty Ane Kanahele of Niihau.
Panel discussions, live music, hula sessions, and arts and crafts will also be offered. The public is invited.
Aunty Rubellite Kawena Johnson, author of "Kumulipo, Hawaiian Hymn of Creation," is this year's honoree.
Previous honorees Aunty Genoa Keawe and Aunty Malia Craver will also be teaching workshops.
Marriott, a co-host of the event, is offering special room rates, starting at $99 per day for all participants. For reservations, call 800-220-2925. The Radisson Kauai Beach Resort is also providing kamaaina room rates from Jan. 10 to 13. Call 888-805-3843 for more information.
Hawaiian Airlines is supplying special air fares for the event upon request.
For more information, visit www.hulahawaii.org or contact Madeline Guyett, reservations co-chair, at kinihoku@hotmail.com; Tracy Majerik, hospitality co-chair, at kapalena@hotmail.com; or call 808-246-4752.
Maui senior wins national scholarship
A high school senior from Haiku, Maui, has been named a Horatio Alger National Scholar.Michael Foley will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.
The privately funded program gives $10,000 scholarships to 107 students every year. The high school seniors are selected from more than 50,000 applicants nationwide.
The scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and a proven ability to overcome adversity through hard work, perseverance and integrity.
The Horatio Alger National Scholars Conference is set for April 4-8 in Washington, D.C.
MADD urges safe party-hosting
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is recommending a number of ways hosts of New Year's Eve parties can help save lives.MADD suggests hosts offer a variety of nonalcoholic beverages to designated drivers, as well as never serving alcohol to those under the legal drinking age of 21.
In addition, the organization says hosts should never allow guests who have had too much to drink to drive home.
The number of people killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents in Hawaii is on the rise, with 43 deaths in 1999 and 54 in 2000, MADD said.
Yvonne Nelson, chairwoman of MADD-Hawaii, said the National Safety Council predicts that across the country, 533 people will die and 28,300 will suffer disabling injuries in crashes during the New Year's holiday period.
The way to help is by designating nondrinking drivers, she said.
Kuakini mammograms get stricter FDA rules
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has renewed Kuakini Imaging Services Department's mammography accreditation under stricter guidelines.One requires that patients be given easy-to-read reports on their mammogram results.
The FDA encourages women who get mammograms to look for an accreditation certificate.
To achieve accreditation, a facility must undergo periodic review of its clinical images, have an annual survey by a medical physicist and meet federally developed quality standards for personnel qualifications, equipment quality assurance programs and record keeping and reporting.
It must undergo an annual inspection by federally trained and certified federal or state personnel.
Changes to the Mammography Quality Standards Act in 1999 require that physicians who interpret mammograms must be board-certified or have three months of mammography training; technologists must do an average of 200 mammograms every two years, and medical physicists who survey mammography equipment and facilities must meet initial and continuing education and experience requirements.
Patients also must be given a report on their mammogram results. Results were sent only to the physician in the past.
For more information, call the Kuakini Marketing and Public Relations Department, 547-9168.
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. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
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HONOLULU
Youth facility fugitive captured at Kaiser clinic
An 18-year-old woman who escaped from the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility in Kailua in May was captured on Saturday at Kaiser Permanente Honolulu Clinic when a part-time employee at the clinic recognized her, police said. The girl was arrested for escape in the second degree and contempt of court. The part-time Kaiser employee is a full-time HYCF administrator.
LEEWARD OAHU
Fire damages Le Sportsac at Waikele shopping mall
A fire at the Waikele Premium Outlets mall caused an undetermined amount of damage to the building's wooden facade Saturday night."The initial alarm came in as a sign fire, but when the Waipahu fire company arrived, they found the building was on fire," said Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The facade was burning eight to 10 feet below the roof line and had spread out about 50 feet, Tejada said.
The building's sprinkler system slowed the fire down, he said.
However, the sprinklers caused water damage to Le Sportsac Factory, the store directly below the fire. Ten fire units responded to the 11:04 p.m. alarm. The fire was extinguished at 1:52 a.m. yesterday.
Firefighters placed store items in plastic bags and covered remaining items with plastic, Tejada said.
The store had been in that location, between Skechers USA Inc. and Universal Time Outlet, for five weeks. The other two stores may have sustained some water damage but nothing major, Tejada said.
Fire investigators are still trying to determine a cause but say it is probably due to an electrical problem.
Waianae man critical after accident in Makaha
An 18-year-old Waianae man is in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center after he was thrown from his vehicle in a one-car accident in Makaha yesterday.Police said the man was driving a sedan east on Farrington Highway near Lawaia Street about 4:30 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle and hit the side of a hill on the other side of the highway.
The car then rolled back onto the roadway. Police said the man was not wearing a seat belt. He was taken by helicopter to Queen's in critical condition. Two other men in the car, both 18 years old from Waianae, refused treatment.
WINDWARD OAHU
Girl, 11, critical following auto crash in Kaneohe
An 11-year-old girl was taken to Queen's in critical condition last night after the van she was riding was hit broadsided by another vehicle in Kaneohe.Police said the van was traveling east on Puohala Street when it was hit by a car that ran a stop sign while traveling south on Makalani Street about 7:30 p.m. The driver of the van, a 52-year-old man, and the driver of the car, a 20-year-old man, also were taken to Queen's for treatment.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Wailea eatery evacuated due to laundry room fire
A fire in the laundry room of the Sea Watch Restaurant in Wailea forced a minor evacuation yesterday afternoon. Fire crews from Kihei, Kahului and Wailuku responded to the 3:14 p.m. alarm at 100 Wailea Golf Club Drive. The fire was under control at 3:32 p.m. and extinguished at 4:11 p.m.There were no injuries or damage to the building, but the fire did cause $3,000 damage to a dryer, fire officials said. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Hiker who died in fall is ID'd as Kula man, 53
Maui police have identified the hiker who died after falling from a 200-foot cliff as David George Toeller. The 53-year-old Kula man fell while hiking on the East Maui Irrigation Trail in Keanae.Toeller was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center and pronounced dead at 7:35 p.m. Saturday. Police said he died from injuries caused by the fall.
