Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

WAR DOCUMENTARY
GAINS NEW GROUND

STAR-BULLETIN / 2001 The Hawaii Council for the Humanities recently awarded $23,000 to the producers of a video documentary titled "An Untold Triumph: America's Filipino Soldiers." The money was in addition to $21,777 in seed money that was awarded by the council. The documentary details the role of Filipinos in the U.S. Army during World War II, and is scheduled to be released in May. Above, some veterans of the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment who were trained as Alamo Scouts and aided the 6th Rangers in raiding a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines joined family members in November to see a rough-cut version of the film. The American soldier saluting had just been freed by the American forces.

Taking Notice

Cancer group gets grant for annual family retreat

The American Cancer Society has received a $5,000 grant from the Mary D. and Walter F. Frear Eleemosynary Trust for "Families Can*Sur*Vive," an annual retreat for children newly diagnosed with cancer and their families.

The event, held in November for about 200 youths and family members, provides education, guidance, support and referral services to all members of a cancer patient's family.

Families have an opportunity to meet others with the same challenges and share experiences.

For more information on the retreat or other American Cancer Society programs, call 595-7500 or the ACS office in your community: Honolulu, 595-7544; Central/Leeward, 486-8420; Windward, 262-5124; East Hawaii, 935-9763; West Hawaii, 334-0442; Molokai, 553-5154; and Kauai, 245-2942.

>> The Salvation Army's Addiction Treatment Services Program has been awarded a $9,823 grant by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii's Public Health Fund. The money will support the ATS Family Renewal Project, a component of the facility's drug addiction treatment program.

>> The Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education recently received $181,000 in grants from eight different organizations. The money will fund general operations at the organization, as well as fund the "ARTS FIRST" program and various documentaries being produced by the organization. Money was received from the following organizations and foundations: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, $20,000; Atherton Family Foundation, $10,000; McInerny Foundation, $20,000; Cooke Foundation, $10,000; Charles Engelhard Foundation of New York, $10,000; Pacific Islanders in Communication, $26,000; Americans for the Arts, $10,000; and Independent Television Services, $75,000.

>> Albert F. "Bert" Turner has been named chairman of the Honolulu Armed Services YMCA board of management. David R. Gomez will serve as executive director.

>> The Pearl City location of Sam's Club has donated $1,000 to the Pearl City Public Library. The money is part of a national donation to literacy made by Sam's Club in conjunction with the opening of its 500th store. Sam's Club donated a total of $500,000 nationwide to aid literacy efforts in communities.

>> Unity House has awarded more than $450,000 in college scholarship money to local high school graduates. Of the scholarship winners, five special awards were given to the following students: Milton Yeung, Arthur A. Rutledge Award; Jeremy-Leigh Domingo, James Chock Award; Ami Ishihara, Josiah Lii Award; Brant Yoshida, John Reinecke Award; and Kristy Maunakea, Bernard Stern Award.

>> Jessica Hui has been selected to participate in the 2002 Presidential Scholars Program in Washington, D.C. Hui, a senior at Punahou School, is one of 2,600 candidates selected to participate in the program. She will travel to Washington in June to receive the Presidential Scholars medallion and participate in activities with their elected representatives, educators and others in public life.

>> U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka recently announced his nominations to the U.S. service academies for 2002.

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy nominees include: Christopher Johnson, Kauai High School; Casey Piedra, Kaimuki High School; and Ian Taylor, Punahou School. U.S. Military Academy nominees include Summer Bardsley-Marcial, Kalaheo High School; Andrew Janiszewski, Baldwin High School; Eaton Kuh, Punahou; Joyce Louden, American School of Kuwait; Mary Jane Nhan, Kaimuki High; Jennifer Proudfoot, Punahou; Sean Supon, Kauai High; Derrick Wong, St. Louis School; and Reyn Yamashiro, Waiakea High School.

U.S. Naval Academy nominees include Jason Afong, Kamehameha Schools; Summer Bardsley-Marcial, Kalaheo; Johanna Berger, St. Louis; Kyra Borromeo, Lahainaluna High School; Dara Ching, Pearl City High; Roy Chong, Acalanes High School; Stacey Doran, Maryknoll High School; Richard Duncan, St. Anthony High School; Michael Garcia, Kalaheo High; Christopher Hiro-naga, Mid-Pacific Institute; Juliann Jordan, Punahou; Kenan Knieriem Jr., Punahou; Zachary McAngus, Kamehameha; Matthew Nakagawa, Punahou; Jennifer Proudfoot, Punahou; Cassidy Rasmussen, Radford High School; Hayden Stevens, Hilo High; James Strombach, Moanalua High; Janelle Trusty, UH-Manoa; and Kimo Yamashiro, Iolani School.

U.S. Air Force Academy nominees include Rorey Faraon, Wentworth Military Academy; Sebastian Hickey, Campbell High School; Andrew Janiszew-ski, Baldwin High; Adrienne Kasaoka, Mililani High School; Joyce Lee, Punahou; Nicole Ortogero, University of Hawaii Laboratory School; Casey Piedra, Kaimuki High; Jamieson Suriyakam, Seabury Hall; Kimo Yamashiro, Iolani; and Reyn Yamashiro, Waiakea High.

>> The Pali Lions have donated $10,000 to St. Anthony Parish in Kailua. The money will be used to purchase a multimedia projector and other computer lab equipment. The grant was funded through the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation's Weinberg Friends Program.

>> Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu has elected Glenn Inouye as chairman of its board of directors for 2002. Other newly elected officers include Nita Williams, chair-elect; Jan Kuromoto, treasurer; Bonnie Freitas, secretary; Sharon Otagaki, program services chair; Neal Yokota, public relations/recruitment chair; J.P. Damon, resource development chair; Tim Ho, immediate past chair; and Richard Lau, Debra Yoshino and Stephanie Tom, directors.

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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 Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

DRIVER BLAMES
LOOSE CAT IN CRASH

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM The driver of a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta said he lost control yesterday because he swerved to avoid a black-and-white cat that was crossing the road in Tantalus. The car ended about 10 yards off the side of Tantalus Drive near the two-mile marker and stopped when it smashed against a tree. The 25-year-old male driver of the car was taken to the Queen's Medical Center as a precaution, though police and fire crews said the driver seemed uninjured aside from bruises caused by a safety belt. Two other cars were at the scene when police first arrived, and left shortly afterward. Police said there appeared to be no skid marks on the road where the driver said he lost control.

WINDWARD OAHU

Waimanalo pedestrian dies after being hit by car

A 43-year-old woman died this morning after she was struck by a vehicle on Kalanianaole Highway near the 7-Eleven store near Waimanalo Beach Park.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Castle Medical Center where she died. The incident occurred at about 5:20 a.m. Police allowed motorists to travel off the roadway past the accident scene while they conducted their investigation.

Overturned refuse truck causes H-3 lane to close

Police closed one of the Kaneohe-bound lanes on the H-3 Freeway this morning after a garbage truck flipped over just past the Likelike Highway offramp. No one was injured. Police received the first report of the accident at 5:23 a.m.

HONOLULU

Security guards treated for smoke inhalation

Two security guards at a North King Street apartment building were treated for smoke inhalation after they went door to door trying to evacuate residents due to a fire on the fourth floor.

Fire crews received the alarm at 10:19 a.m. and got flames under control within 11 minutes, fire officials said.

The fire caused an estimated $4,500 damage to the unit and was started by an electrical heating pad left on the bed, fire officials said.

The male tenant who lived in the studio was not at home when the fire started.

Child with lighter causes blaze that destroys home

Fire officials said a 5-year-old boy playing with a lighter apparently caused the fire that destroyed the home for a family of six yesterday in Waialae.

The fire at 3907 Waialae Ave. was reported at 1:41 p.m. and caused an estimated $185,000 in damage.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said a 22-year-old resident was at home at the time watching the 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl. The male later found the boy in one of the bedrooms playing with a lighter, said Soo.

The American Red Cross has offered assistance for the family.

EAST OAHU

Van accident victim ID'd as Hobron Lane resident

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office has identified a Waikiki man who was killed Sunday when his van veered off of a steep mountain road.

Hugo Pozdena, 57, of Hobron Lane, died after he crashed his van through a wall along Halekoa Drive on Waialae Nui ridge and landed in someone's yard 30 feet below.

Police said they are still investigating why Pozdena crashed and whether something was mechanically wrong with his van.

CENTRAL OAHU

Keys in stolen car used in later burglary attempt

Wahiawa police recovered a stolen car on Sunday that was involved in an attempted burglary on Feb. 22.

Police said the 1994 gold Saturn was the same one that was stolen in Waikiki, then driven to the home of the owner at Doris Miller Park housing where one of the suspects entered the house using the victim's keys.

The attempted burglary was stopped by the victim's mother, who was home at the time. The mother chased the suspect out of the house and dived into her son's car in a failed attempt to wrestle away her son's keys from the two suspects.

She suffered bruises from one of the suspects, who punched her face and body, police said.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man in the case for driving a stolen car. However, they said he may not be one of the two suspects who stole the car.

Police released him pending investigation.

Anyone with further information regarding the suspects in the attempted burglary is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Family of missing student offers $25,000 reward

The family of a missing Colorado State University student who was last seen on Maui last month is offering a $25,000 reward for information about him.

Torey Newlin was last seen in Lahaina on Feb. 16.

Newlin's friends said they were at a concert at the Lahaina Civic Center when he walked off after taking some LSD.

Newlin's father said he is not sure at this point whether his son is dead or alive, but he feels someone must know something about what happened to him.

"We want someone to come forward," said Charles Newlin from his Texas home yesterday. "Even if Torey is deceased, we want to know. We need to know."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Maui Police Department's Juvenile Section at 244-6480.

The Newlin family can also be reached through their toll free number at 866-506-8666.

Police open investigation into missing Puna man

Police are investigating the disappearance of a 31-year-old Puna man.

Police identified the missing man as Robert Dean Corsant Jr. of Kapoho, last seen Sunday, Feb. 24.

Corsant is described as being 5 feet 11, about 250 pounds, with long brown hair and brown eyes. Police said Corsant's vehicle, a white 1988 Isuzu Trooper, license plate HTY-962, is also missing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Richard Miyamoto at 961-2381, 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Cell phone call helps Coast Guard find boaters

LAHAINA >> The Coast Guard said a tug helped in finding two men aboard a boat adrift yesterday.

The two men aboard the 17-foot Lei Moku out of Molokai were found about 15 miles southeast of Diamond Head at about 9 a.m. after they made an emergency call on a cell phone, saying they had fuel problems.

Coast Guard Petty Officer David Mosley said the men did not know their location when they called at 4:50 a.m. but could see a tug and barge operated by Young Brothers Ltd.

Mosley said the tug stayed within view of the boat until a Coast Guard helicopter found the men.

The 110-foot Coast Guard vessel Kittiwake out of Kauai brought the men and their boat to the Hawaii Kai boat ramp on Oahu at about 1:25 p.m. yesterday. No one was injured.

WAIKIKI

Police say fire that gutted Waikiki studio is arson

Honolulu police and fire officials say a fire that gutted a Waikiki studio yesterday and killed a pet cat was maliciously set.

Police have not identified any suspects.

The fire was reported at 9:26 a.m. at the Kuhio Ebbtide at 2462 Kuhio Ave.

Fire officials said neighbors tried to shoot water into the studio using garden hoses and the emergency fire hose located within the building, but had to retreat because of the smoke.

The woman who rented the apartment was not home at the time of the fire.

Damage is estimated at $40,000.