Hilo man sentenced for child pornography
A 31-year-old Hilo man has been sentenced to three years and eight months in federal prison for mailing computer diskettes containing child pornography.Jay Abregana mailed the diskettes to an undercover law enforcement officer in Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. said yesterday.
Abregana had responded to an advertisement posted as part of an undercover Internet operation conducted by U.S. postal inspectors and Pennsylvania's attorney general's office, Kubo said.
In responding to the advertisement, Abregana had sent the diskettes expecting to receive videotapes containing child pornography in return, he said.
More diskettes containing child pornography were found at Abregana's home by investigators Aug. 28.
Agents recovered pictures of Abregana and what appeared to be an underage male engaged in sexual activity, Kubo said.
During sentencing Monday, U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor found the prison term was appropriate in light of Abregana's exploitation of the child, Kubo said.
Gillmor also ruled Abregana must receive sex offender treatment after his release from prison.
Meanwhile, Abregana's brother, Jed, also 31, is to be sentenced Aug. 12 after pleading guilty in a separate case to possessing child pornography. He faces two to 10 years in prison.
Jed Abregana was on probation for a prior state conviction for sexual abuse of a minor when his own diskettes containing child pornography were found Aug. 28, Kubo said.
Coast Guard flies help to ailing man on cruise
A Coast Guard aircraft was dispatched yesterday to drop a supply of oxygen and medications for an ailing man aboard a cruise ship off Hawaii.The aircraft reached the Statendam cruise ship about 500 miles southeast of Hilo at 3:53 p.m. to aid the 79-year-old man, Coast Guard officials said.
The man was suffering from pneumonia and congestive heart failure.
Oxygen and dopamine were supplied by Tripler Army Medical Center, Coast Guard Integrated Support Command Clinic and a Honolulu vendor.
April 1 deadline looms for AlohaCare health grants
April 1 is the deadline to apply for $1,000 to $5,000 in grants awarded by the AlohaCare Neighbors Programs to nonprofit community groups for health-related programs.AlohaCare has been providing grants since 1977 to improve health of Hawaii communities through such programs as the Healthy Intentions Domestic Violence Prevention Project, the 17th annual Seniors Health Fair and Hamakua Asthma Camp.
Bev Cyriano, Hamakua Asthma Camp director, said AlohaCare grants in 1997 and 1998 launched asthma education on the Big Island, with children ages 7 to 12 experiencing the asthma education summer camp.
John McComas, AlohaCare chief executive officer, said the organization is "demonstrating our commitment to helping Hawaii's communities by returning some of our income back to the community and empowering the people to improve the quality of life in their own neighborhoods."
Projects must promote community physical or mental health or general well-being.
To be eligible for a grant, groups must be nonprofit and community-based, have limited financial resources and provide measurable community benefits.
AlohaCare is the only nonprofit health plan in Hawaii that exclusively serves 28,000 QUEST members.
More information or an application may be obtained by calling 973-1650 or logging onto www.alohacarehawaii.org. Neighbor island groups may call 1-800-434-1002.
Symposium to address how to avoid stroke
A free public symposium on "Stroke Prevention and Therapy: It's About Time" will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, April 21 in the Tapa Ballroom, Hilton Hawaiian Village.Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and a free continental breakfast will be provided, as well as free blood pressure screening and stroke risk assessments.
Speakers will include: >> Dr. Greg Albers, professor of neurology, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford, "What is a Stroke and Can Aspirin and Other Blood Thinners Prevent One?"
>> Dr. Cherylee Chang, medical director, Neuroscience Institute, The Queen's Medical Center and University of Hawaii associate clinical professor of medicine, "The Role of Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Medications in Stroke Prevention." >> Dr. E. Clarke Haley Jr., professor of neurology and neurological surgery, Department of Neurology, Charlottesville, Va., "New Developments in Clot Buster Drugs for Stroke." >> Dr. Van Halbach, clinical professor of radiology and neurological survey, University of California, San Francisco, "New Treatments for Stroke: Attacking the Clot Directly." The American Heart Association of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center are presenting the symposium. To register, fax 538-3443, or call 538-7021, extension 34. Health Department TB program moves
The state Department of Health's Tuberculosis Control Program has moved from Lanakila Health Center for about a year during renovations at the center.The TB clinic will administer skin tests in Suite 214, Dillingham Shopping Plaza. Call 832-3533 for information.
Chest X-rays will be done in the TB clinic on the first floor of Leahi Hospital, near the main entrance. Additional parking is available after 1 p.m. Call 733-9102 or 832-732 for more information about chest X-rays. Patients needing medication refills should call the TB program at 832-3533. All state TB services are free.
Doctor to lecture on postpartum depression
Dr. Franklin Dao, obstetrician/gynecologist, will give a free public lecture on the causes, symptoms and treatments of postpartum depression from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Honolulu Medical Group.One in 10 new mothers experience some degree of postpartum depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Symptoms may range from transient "baby blues" to more serious symptoms which, untreated, could last up to one year or longer. Postpartum psychosis occurs rarely but is a severe illness that should be treated as a medical emergency, the institute says.
Registration is required. Call 537-2211, extension 581, to reserve a seat or obtain more information.
Seniors' Health Fair to be held April 11
The 18th Annual Seniors' Health Fair will be held between 8:30 a.m. and noon April 11 at the Manoa Grand Ballroom in the Japanese Cultural Center building.The event is open to everyone interested in health maintenance, medical awareness, vital nutrition and exercise.
The health fair will hold seminars on eye care, health care and retirement planning. Cooking demonstrations, medical testing will also be conducted.
Admission is free. For more information, contact the Honolulu Japanese Cultural Center at 949-5531.
Seminar discusses treatment for morbidly obese
Dr. Brandt Lapschies, specialist on gastric bypass surgery, will discuss the treatment during a free seminar from 6 to 7 p.m. April 10 at Kuakini Medical Center, Hale Pulama Mau Auditorium.Kuakini's Education Services Department is sponsoring the seminar to address problems of people who are morbidly obese, meaning they have a body mass index number of 40 or more or are 100 pounds or more over their ideal weight.
Parking will be validated. Seating is limited to 100 people. For more information, call 547-9252 or 547-9168.
Nonprofit cancer group board names new officers
John Landgraf of First Hawaiian Bank's Commercial Real Estate Division, has been elected to his third term as president of the nonprofit Friends of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii.Other officers named to the board are: Lila Johnson of the American Cancer Society, vice president; James Wriston of Ashford & Wriston Attorneys at Law, secretary, and Michael Ching of Ernst & Young, treasurer.
Newly elected directors of the organization, which raises public awareness of and funds for cancer research, are: Jane Allen, Gary Galiher, Richard Humphreys, Melanie Matsui and Don Murphy.
Returning directors are John Aube, Charles Bocken, Gladys A. Brandt, Vi Dolman, P. Nathan Minn, Frank Haines, Dr. Scott Hundahl, Donna St. John Wiecking, Ann Simpson, H. Howard Stephenson and Glenn Zander.
American Lung Association gets asthma grant
The American Lung Association of Hawaii has received a $25,000 grant for the Open Airways for Schools program to meet needs of an estimated 40,000 students who suffer from asthma.The Kaiser Permanente/American Lung Association National Partnership on Asthma provided the grant.
For more information about the programs, call 537-5966, extension 303, or see www.ala-hawaii.org
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>> A total of 19 groups were awarded hunting permits by the state Forestry and Wildlife Division to help control the wild pig population in the Makiki-Tantalus area. From April 2 to June 27, two groups of up to five members will be allowed to hunt in the area every Tuesday and Thursday. A Monday Page A1 story incorrectly stated three five-member groups would be awarded hunting permits. 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.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffLEEWARD OAHU Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Man accused of driving into group of teenagers
A 25-year-old Pearl City man who allegedly drove his vehicle into a group of teenagers crossing the street last night was arrested by police officers who witnessed the incident near the Pearl City Police Station.Three boys, ages 15 and 16, were crossing Kamehameha Highway at the Waimano Home Road intersection just before midnight. Police said the boys exchanged words with the man and he then drove his vehicle into the boys striking one of them. The man fled but was stopped by police a block away. The boy was taken to Queen's Medical Center where he is in stable condition. The man was arrested for attempted murder, reckless endangering, failure to render aid and DUI.
HPD officer's stolen gun found during Aiea arrest
Honolulu police recovered a police officer's personal handgun when they arrested an alleged parole violator in Aiea yesterday.Police found the semiautomatic pistol in the same Koa-uka Loop home where they located Fred "Masami" Kiyabu Jr. yesterday morning.
Police had been looking for Kiyabu -- who has 14 felony convictions including attempted murder and robbery --- since last week.
The officer's off-duty pistol was reported stolen last fall after someone broke into his personal vehicle. Police also recovered about $10,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine from the Koauka Loop home.
CENTRAL OAHU
Boy accuses Mililani man of trying to run over him
Police arrested a 29-year-old Mililani man who allegedly tried to run over a 14-year-old boy with his vehicle.The boy told police he was walking on Wainihi Street in Waipio Acres about 2:30 p.m. when he saw the man, an acquaintance, driving his vehicle in the opposite direction. The man then turned around and started driving on the sidewalk toward the boy, police said. The boy said he jumped over the concrete wall of the bridge and the man then told him he was going to get his gun and shoot him. The boy fled to a friend's house. The suspect was arrested when he went to the boy's house to talk to his mother.
HONOLULU
3 sought in stabbing at Lanakila District Park
Police are looking for three suspects in the stabbing of a 53-year-old Kalihi man at the Lanakila District Park public restroom this morning.The man was reported in critical condition at the Queen's Medical Center this morning.
The victim told police he parked his car across the street from the park about 2 a.m. and went to use the restroom when a man approached him and asked for money. Police said the suspect punched the man when he said he did not have any money and another suspect grabbed him from behind and stabbed him in the back. The victim said he saw a third man at the door and all three suspects fled. The man walked to his car, where a witness found him slumped behind the wheel of the car with an ice pick lodged in his back.
Police open assault probe after injured man found
Police have opened a second-degree assault investigation after a 44-year-old man was found on the street across from the Downtown Police Substation this morning.Police said the man was found in the gutter about 2:15 a.m. He bleeding from the back of his head, was unconscious and appeared intoxicated.
He was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition but has since improved to guarded. Police are looking for witnesses who may have seen how the man was injured.
