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Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Maui County office plans move back into building

WAILUKU >> The Maui County Planning Department will be closed tomorrow through Thursday as employees move back to the Kalana Pakui Building in Wailuku.

About 80 employees evacuated the building in February 2001 after several complained about indoor air quality problems that caused eye irritation, respiratory problems and headaches. The building was cleaned of mold and has a new air-conditioning system.

County officials said meetings will continue as scheduled for the Maui Planning Commission tomorrow and Board of Variances and Appeals Thursday in the Maui County Council committee room.

2 UH graduate programs earn national rankings

For the second year in a row, two University of Hawaii graduate programs ranked in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Graduate Schools" issue released earlier this month.

The College of Business Administration's international business programs tied for top 20, out of 23, sharing the spot with George Washington University and the University of Washington. Thunderbird -- The American Graduate School of International Management ranked first.

The William S. Richardson School of Law's Environmental Law specialty also ranked 20th, out of 20, with Columbia University, Florida State University, Golden Gate University and University of California-Davis. Lewis & Clark College topped the list.

Last month, the law school was named a "very good value" for public schools in the National Jurist's "Best School for Your Money" issue.

UH nursing school to host Asian educators

The University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene will host about 15 nursing-school deans and presidents from Japan and Southeast Asia at a meeting here Wednesday through Friday.

A key topic will be collaborative research to improve the health of people living in that region, said Dr. Robert L. Anders, interim associate dean of the UH school and director of international affairs.

"We want to try to help schools increase the competence of the nursing faculty in terms of research so they can address health care problems and pass on that knowledge into their educational programs," he said.

Another critical issue discussed will be the international nurses shortage, he said.

The UH school hosted the first meeting of nursing officials from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia and Thailand four years ago.

Marine gathering to focus on biotech advancements

Marine biotechnical developments will be discussed at a worldwide conference of scientists, industrial and government leaders today through Friday in Honolulu.

The Fourth Asia-Pacific Marine Biotechnology Conference will be held at the Imin International Conference Center, East-West Center.

Sponsors are the Marine Bioproducts Engineering Center (MarBEC), University of Hawaii-Manoa and Asia-Pacific Society for Marine Biotechnology.

The international society tries to promote marine biotechnology and interaction between researchers, industry, organizations and governments.

Sessions will cover microalgae, extremophiles, marine microbiology, mariculture biotechnology, marine natural products, industrial enzymes, aquaculture biotechnology, photobioreactors, environmental biotechnology, genomics and bioinformatics, microarrays and gene chips, and diagnostic tools.

Corrections and clarifications >> A photograph on Page A-16 yesterday showed a training unit mounted on a platform at the Submarine Training Center at Pearl Harbor that can simulate the movements of a submarine. A caption stated incorrectly that the trainer was a fiberglass mock-up of the bridge of the USS Vesub 2000, which exists only in virtual training scenarios. 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

Truck's crash into tree on Pali kills male driver

A man was killed early yesterday morning when his truck veered off Pali Highway, traveled onto a grassy median and hit a tree, police said.

The crash happened about 4 a.m. in the Honolulu-bound lanes just outside the tunnel in Nuuanu Valley, police said. The man was pronounced dead upon arrival at Queen's Medical Center. He was the only person in the car and had been wearing a seat belt, police said.

Man, 77, dies after hit while crossing the street

A 77-year-old Kalihi man died at Queen's Medical Center last night after he was struck by a truck in downtown Honolulu.

Police said the man was running outside the crosswalk along South King Street around 3:15 p.m. A 44-year-old driver operating a brown 1979 Dodge Ram was traveling Koko Head-bound on King Street when he struck the pedestrian near Bishop Street, police said.

Paramedics transported the victim to Queen's in serious condition, but his condition worsened, police said, and he died about 7:50 p.m.

WINDWARD OAHU

Man arrested in robbery and threats against 3

A 48-year-old man was charged last night with allegedly robbing and threatening three people at gunpoint in Kailua Saturday and trying to kill one of them.

Harry Kauhi was charged with attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping, burglary, terroristic threatening and firearm violations. His bail is $75,000.

Police gave this account: Kauhi knocked on a 22-year-old man's door, hid, then emerged with a shotgun when the man answered the door. Kauhi forced his way into the residence and assaulted the victim. The victim tried to flee but was caught and assaulted again. Kauhi demanded his money and the keys to his vehicle.

While Kauhi held a gun to the victim's head and forced him to walk to another house on the property, the victim's father and a woman came out of the second house, and Kauhi pointed the gun at them also. The victim tried to flee again but Kauhi held the shotgun to his abdomen and pulled the trigger. However the weapon did not fire. The victims held the man until police arrived.

Man arrested in theft of handbag in parking lot

A 21-year-old Kaneohe man was arrested for theft yesterday after he allegedly grabbed a woman's handbag as the woman was loading groceries into her car.

Police said the 56-year-old woman was in the parking lot of the Times Supermarket McCully store at 1772 S. King St. about 5 p.m. when the suspect grabbed her handbag and ran. Some witnesses chased and caught the suspect and held him until police arrived.

WAIKIKI

Ewa woman accused of robbing Waikiki tourist

A 21-year-old Ewa Beach woman was arrested in connection with the robbery of a tourist in a Waikiki hotel early this morning.

Police said the victim, a 38-year-old man from Japan, met the suspect earlier and had given her some and his phone number. When she called, the man gave her his room number at the Hawaii Prince Hotel, police said. At about midnight, the woman went to the man's room, knocked on the door and was let in. At the same time, two males forced their way into the hotel room, police said.

The men held a gun to the victim's head, tied him up, then fled with his belongings, police said. The victim notified hotel security people, who caught the woman. She was arrested for burglary and kidnapping.

LEEWARD OAHU

Man allegedly fires shots during confrontation

Waianae police arrested a 43-year-old man yesterday morning after he allegedly fired several shots at six men. No one was hurt.

Around 8:45 a.m., six men between the ages of 19 and 42 went to the suspect's home on Farrington Highway and confronted him about stolen vehicle rims, police said. The men assaulted the suspect, who then pulled a gun and fired several shots, police said. Police arrested the suspect for attempted murder in the first degree.