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Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Hot line offers chance to discuss education

The National Association of Elementary School Principals is holding a toll-free education hot line through tomorrow to answer any questions about schools, children and education.

The 13th National Principals' Hotline gives families a chance to speak confidentially with a principal or school psychologist. In the past, callers have asked about a range of topics including children's reading problems, special-education policies and school safety.

The hot line and e-mail service will be activated only during the group's convention in San Antonio.

Hawaii callers may reach the hot line at 800-944-1601 between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. today, and 3 to 9 a.m. tomorrow. Questions may be e-mailed to www.naesp.org through tomorrow morning.

The hot line is co-sponsored by TIAA-CREF and Family Circle magazine and averages more than 1,000 calls a year. Callers may receive free copies of the booklets "What Parents Should Look for in Their Child's Elementary School" and "A Parents Guide to Helping Children Cope with Fears," produced by TIAA-CREF and the national association, which represents elementary and middle school principals.

Foodbank's annual drive will be held on April 27

The Hawaii Foodbank will hold its 13th annual food drive, "Helping to Feed Hawaii's Hungry," from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 27 at various locations.

Restaurant Row, Kamalamalama O Keau Church in Hauula, Koko Marina Center, Pearl City Shopping Center, the Town Center of Mililani, Waianae Mall Shopping Center, Waiokeola Congregational Church, Kahala Mall, Windward City Shopping Center and various military locations will be the drop-off sites.

The food drive is an annual fund-raiser sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank, KGMB 9 and KSSK. Collected food supplements products already donated to the food bank from the local food industry and provides a nutritious, well-balanced meal for those in need.

Last year, more than 2,000 volunteers helped collect 440,000 pounds of food and $305,000 from the community, an effort that provided assistance to an estimated 398,000 people.

This year's goals are 500,000 pounds of food and $325,000. Donations of food and cash are welcome, as well as volunteers at collections site on April 27.

For more information, call 836-3600, ext. 226, or visit the food bank's Web site at www.hawaiifoodbank.org.

Former Honolulu lawyer gets prison for tax fraud

A former Honolulu attorney has been sentenced to a year and one day in prison on tax charges.

District Court Judge Susan Oki Mollway also ordered that the prison sentence for Riccio Tanaka be followed by three years' supervised release.

He was sentenced Friday.

Tanaka pleaded guilty last May to charges of failing to file an individual income tax return and failing to account for and pay federal employment taxes.

According to court documents, Tanaka failed to report gross income of $453,236.13 from 1995 through 1997. During that time he owed the state and federal government more than $137,000.

Tanaka was disbarred in May.

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

LEEWARD OAHU

6 arrested after brawl at home in Waianae

Police broke up a fight among six men at a home in Waianae yesterday and arrested them for assault and terroristic threatening.

The fight happened at 12:30 p.m. on Gilipake Street when two groups of men argued over a traffic incident at another residence.

Members of each group claimed the other group used weapons to threaten them, police said. One man was taken to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center with minor cuts, while another man was taken to Queen's Medical Center with a cut on his forehead.

WEST OAHU

Aiea woman, 57, arrested in attack on woman, 50

A 57-year-old Aiea woman was arrested for burglary, kidnapping, terroristic threatening and a firearm violation for an alleged attack on the wife of her husband's friend.

Police said the suspect blames the victim, a 50-year-old woman, for her pending divorce. The suspect went to the victim's home at 1:40 p.m., forced her way in through the front door and threatened the victim with a gun, police said.

After a brief struggle, the victim was able to flee and call police. The suspect was found a few hours later at a bar where she was arrested.

HONOLULU

83-year-old helps police nab man in car break-ins

An 83-year-old man helped police track down a suspect yesterday who was allegedly breaking into cars near his apartment.

Police said the man was looking out from his Pensacola Street apartment about 8 a.m. when he saw someone opening doors of parked vehicles.

The man started following the suspect and had his wife call police after the suspect went into a vehicle of someone the man knew. Police arrived and arrested a 24-year-old man for unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

NORTH SHORE

Fire caused by cigarette leaves 12 homeless

A fire that gutted a Waialua house last night left 12 adults and children homeless.

Investigators determined the blaze was caused by a cigarette left unattended in the bathroom, said Capt. Richard Soo, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.

Soo said the fire occurred at 7:11 p.m. and was under control around 7:45 p.m.

Six adults, ages ranging from 35 to 74, and six children between 8 and 15, lived at the two-bedroom, one-bath home on Haleiwa Road.

Damage to the structure and its contents is estimated at $100,000, Soo said.

The Hawaii chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family with clothing and living arrangements.

Opihi-picker dies in fall along Haleiwa shoreline

A 51-year-old man died Saturday while picking opihi with his nephew.

According to police, the victim and his nephew were picking opihi along the shoreline between Haleiwa and Chun's Reef when he slipped and struck his head on the jagged rocks.

His nephew and firefighters administered first aid, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Wahiawa General Hospital, police said.

There are no signs of foul play, police said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kahului motorcyclist dies after collision with 2 cars

A 27-year-old Kahului motorcyclist died shortly after midnight yesterday when he collided with a car and a sport utility vehicle on Dairy Road, police said.

According to police, a 1998 Honda Accord had been attempting to make a left turn from Hukilike Street when it was broadsided by Derrick S. Ogata, who had been traveling westbound on Dairy Road on his 1995 Honda motorcycle.

Ogata was thrown from his motorcycle, and his body struck a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo traveling east on Dairy Road, police said.

Ogata, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained head injuries and died at the scene, police said.

WINDWARD OAHU

Hiker finds human skull in Kaneohe near the H-3

Police said a 49-year-old man found a human skull Saturday while hiking in Kaneohe near the H-3 freeway.

The man recovered the skull, took it back to his residence and called the police. The case has been classified an unattended death.

The missing person's division is investigating.

Suspicious bottles found in Kahaluu stream

The Fire Department's hazardous-materials unit was called yesterday after erosion on a stream bank uncovered 10 to 15 glass bottles filled with what may have been a chemical substance.

Fire spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said a Kahaluu resident called the Fire Department after she noticed the rubber-corked bottles.

HAZMAT collected the bottles and determined they were not hazardous.

3 adults, 1 child in boat rescued in Kaneohe Bay

Three adults and a child were rescued yesterday after having mechanical problems with their boat near Kipapa Island in Kaneohe Bay, said Fire Capt. Richard Soo.

Soo said the people were rescued by a passing boat and brought to the Heeia Kea pier.

CENTRAL OAHU

2 Schofield soldiers found safe in Pupukea

After an 18-hour search, two Schofield Barracks soldiers were found yesterday near the Boy Scout camp in Pupukea.

First Lt. Ian T. Grimstad and Staff Sgt. Gerar Avila-Rodriguez were spotted from the air at 11:15 a.m. by the Honolulu Fire Department's helicopter. The two soldiers are members of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, and were reported missing yesterday when they did not return from a run near Helemano Military Reservation.

They were picked up by an Army truck and driven to an open area where a UH-60 Black Hawk flew them to Helemano. Both soldiers are in good condition.

WAIKIKI

HFD rescues 3 in boat stuck off San Souci

The Fire Department rescued three people yesterday morning after their boat ran aground off San Souci beach.

Fire spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said the boat got stuck on the reef. A fire rescue boat was able to pull the boat from the reef.