Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

State seeks judge's order to open union books

The state Attorney General's Office is asking a judge to order two of Hawaii's largest government employee unions to turn over financial records of their health, dental and life insurance programs.

In legal papers filed Friday in state Circuit Court, the Attorney General's Office asked for a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction against the United Public Workers and the Hawaii Government Employees Association, saying the unions and their insurance representatives repeatedly denied them access to financial records that they are entitled to.

"With the complicity of their agents, (the unions) have refused the comptroller's request to audit and examine their accounting records," said Deputy Attorney General Hugh Jones. "The time has come for the defendants to respond in kind and open their books to the disinfecting light of public scrutiny."

UPW state Director Gary Rodrigues and HGEA Executive Director Russell Okata could not be reached. Okata previously stated that the union is not opposed to opening its books. Okata attributed the dispute to a problem between the state and its third-party insurance administrator.

Friday's filing comes a week after the state sued UPW and HGEA seeking access to their insurance records.

Corporation faces lawsuit over status as university

The state Office of Consumer Protection has filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court to stop a business registered as a Hawaii corporation from continuing to represent itself as a university.

The state sued American International University of Management and Technology Inc. last week for allegedly promoting itself as a university but failing to disclose it was not accredited by any nationally recognized accrediting agency.

The company president, Abnish C. Amar of California, was also named in the suit, which alleges that the company violated several Hawaii laws governing universities while it suggested in catalogs and promotional materials that it was in compliance.

American International allegedly failed to have the required minimum 25 students. The company represented it had a presence in Hawaii, but the state alleges that it failed to maintain an office, an employee and an agent continuously in Hawaii.

The business listed its address as 758 Kapahulu Ave., which is a Mail Boxes Etc. mail forwarding service, and maintained a Web site registered to Amar, according to the complaint.

The suit also alleges American International received tuition payments and fees while not being in compliance with Hawaii law.

Aliamanu sewage spill makes a mess

About 12,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled after an underground sewer line at the Aliamanu Pump Station No. 2 ruptured yesterday morning.

According to city officials, most of the sewage was retained in the sewer system or absorbed on the ground.

Crew members responded near the intersection of Salt Lake Boulevard and Lawehana Street at 11:15 a.m. and controlled the spill at 1:30 p.m.

City officials estimate about 150 gallons of raw sewage reached a storm drain. Officials are investigating the break in the 8-inch sewer line.

The state Department of Health was notified of the spill, and warning signs have been posted around the ditch near the affected storm drain. City officials said the area has been disinfected.

Concert benefits Hawaiian charter schools and programs

A benefit concert to support Hawaiian charter schools and the Pono campaign will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Hawaii Center for Hawaiian Studies.

"Pono: A Conscious Concert for a Righteous Cause" will feature performances by O-shen, Makaha Sons, Sista Robi Kahakalau and others.

Students from six Hawaiian charter schools will sing, dance and chant between bands.

Tickets are available at the following schools: Halau Ku Mana at the UH Center for Hawaiian Studies, Halau Lokahi at Palama Settlement, Hakipuu Learning Center at Windward Community College, Ke Kula o Samuel M. Kamakau in Kailua and Ka Lamaku Hawaiian Academy in Hauula.

A $10 donation is requested.

The concert is sponsored by Na Lei Naauao, the Native Hawaiian Charter School Alliance, which is made up of 12 charter schools and Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana. The Pono campaign aims to inspire Hawaii residents to promote and expect righteousness and to make viable choices in education and opportunities for native Hawaiians.

For more information, call 832-3594 or e-mail aholoa@aol.com.

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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

HONOLULU

Man, 35, held in assault and resisting arrest

A 35-year-old man was taken into custody for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer following a scuffle at his Birch Street apartment last night.

Police went to the apartment at 11:18 p.m. on a report that the man was assaulting his girlfriend. When officers arrived, the 35-year-old woman opened the front door but was pulled back into the apartment by the suspect, who had his arm around the woman's neck, police said.

Officers were able to free the woman after a struggle, during which one officer was kicked in the knee, police said. The suspect also faces charges of kidnapping and abuse of a household member.

Woman, 49, arrested in stabbing of husband

A 49-year-old woman was arrested for assault yesterday for allegedly stabbing her husband during an argument at their Lusitana Street home.

The 54-year-old man was taken to Queen's Medical Center with several superficial wounds to his abdominal area and one to his right forearm, police said.

Fire at trucking firm is under investigation

Fire officials are investigating what caused a fire yesterday at a Middle Street trucking company.

Firefighters were called to the Pineridge Farms building at 611 Middle St. at 2:08 p.m. By the time they arrived, the owner of an adjacent business and his brother-in-law already were trying to put out the fire with garden hoses. The fire was under control at 2:17 p.m., said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo. The fire, which originated in the dispatch office, caused $55,000 worth of damage, according to Soo.

WEST OAHU

Man threatens to kill mom with hunting knife

Honolulu police arrested a man Saturday after he threatened to kill his mother with a hunting knife in Waipahu.

Police said the man left the house after threatening his mother, then returned while the police were there.

Police recovered the weapon and arrested the man without incident. There were no injuries, police said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Hitchhiker on Maui punched, robbed by driver

A 24-year-old hitchhiker was punched in the face by a suspect who picked him up along Mokulele Highway in Kihei yesterday, Maui police said.

Around 3:30 p.m., a man was hitchhiking near the Sugar Plantation Mill when a four-door sedan with three men and one woman pulled over. Police said the driver punched the victim and demanded money. The victim was released after the suspects took the hitchhiker's money.

Police said the 24-year-old man suffered minor injuries. The occupants of the vehicle were described as in their 20s.