Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Healing arts gathering set for Big Isle

Hawaii and mainland specialists on natural healing will participate in a healing health care symposium sponsored by the North Hawaii Community Hospital Sept.18-20 at The Orchid at Mauna Lani resort.

Among the speakers will be Leland R. Kaiser, health futurist, founder and president of Kaiser Consulting, and Dr. Gerald Jampolsky of Hawaii and California, co-founder of the Center for Attitudinal Healing.

It is the 11th symposium of the Association of Healing Health Care Projects to address health care issues. Traditional healing and the role of nature in the process will be discussed.

The registration form and a brochure are available at www.planet-hawaii.com. A discounted kamaaina rate of $250 is available.

To register or obtain more information by telephone, call 808-881-4695.

Akaka doing well after knee surgery

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka was resting at a hospital yesterday following his knee replacement surgery, his office in Washington, D.C., said.

Akaka, D-Hawaii, underwent surgery on his left knee Monday at Queen's Medical Center and his prognosis is excellent, the office said.

The longtime senator had a similar surgery performed on his right knee in December.

Total knee replacement is a procedure in which the surfaces of the arthritic joint are removed and replaced with prosthetic components to reduce pain and restore motion.

Akaka, 77, will return to Washington after Labor Day.

Officials on Lanai will process state ID cards

State officials will go to Lanai to process applications for state identification cards from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Lanai Community Center, Attorney General Earl Anzai says.

Priority will be given to persons with completed applications and the required certified document who may make an appointment by calling Leticia Castillo, the governor's liaison officer, at 565-6411.

The fee is $10 for senior citizens 65 years and older and $15 for other people.

Information on application requirements is available by calling (808) 587-3111 or on the state Web site at www.state.hi.us/hcjdc.

Maui couple disputes animal cruelty case

WAILUKU >> A Maui couple pleaded not guilty yesterday to 85 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

Marlyn "Jean" Bermudez and her husband Timothy are scheduled for a pretrial conference in Wailuku District Court on Sept. 20 to determine if they want to have a jury trial or trial by judge.No date has been set for the trial.

Maui Humane Society workers removed 82 dogs and 14 cats Jan. 4 from the Bermudez's three-bedroom home at West Lelehuna Place in Haiku, including a dog in the hallway that apparently had been killed by other dogs.

Attorney David Sereno, representing Marlyn Bermudez, said in preparing for the trial, he wasn't satisfied with the documents describing the condition of the animals seized.

But Sereno said he's satisfied that he's obtained everything he's going to get from the prosecutor's office.

Upon conviction, each misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine and one year in jail.

Fishermen ready hook, line and paperwork

The state will require commercial fishermen to file new and updated forms starting this fall, the first major change in nearly 50 years to the commercial fish catch reports.

The new forms, developed after statewide consultation with fishermen, focus on the fisherman's effort -- how much time and fishing gear they needed -- and the catch.

Fishermen will have to report information on everything they catch, including the fish they release or use for bait.

"We appreciate the input of the many fishermen who were involved in helping us develop and test these new forms," said William Devick, administrator for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources.

The new catch report forms will no longer collect economic data, which will be obtained from commercial marine dealers.

Mental health group solicits car donations

Thinking of selling your car? Why not donate it to the Mental Health Association in Hawaii to help it celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Donors can receive tax donations for donated cars, vans trucks, motorcycles and boats.

The association accepts vehicles that are inoperable and unlicensed.

Donations are to help support the association's efforts to end the myths and misconceptions about mental illnesses and to improve mental health services for children, adults, families and senior citizens in Hawaii.

For more information on how to donate a vehicle, call the Mental Health Association at 521-1846.

|

Corrections and clarifications >> A photo caption on Page C2 Monday incorrectly identified Denise Wong as Linda Wong. >> Aug. 31 is the deadline for applications or nominations for two unpaid positions on the Hawaii Board of Certified Shorthand Reporters. A story on Page A6 yesterday incorrectly said the date was Aug. 1. 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 staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

2 escape Pearl City house fire

Craig T. kojima / ckojima@starbulletin.com
A house fire started in the bedroom of a Pearl City home about 6:30 this morning. A 6-year-old boy and his 49-year-old grandmother were home at the time of the fire at 1026 Luehu St., but no one was injured. Damage is estimated at $100,000.

HONOLULU

Man, 55, stabbed after Chinatown argument

A Chinatown stabbing sent a 55-year-old downtown man to the hospital with serious injuries last night. Police said a man, who has not been identified, stabbed the victim in the abdomen with an instrument when the two argued on Bethel Street about 7:30 p.m. The victim was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition and later improved to guarded condition.

Downed utility pole disrupts Pali traffic Police shut down several lanes of Pali Highway for about two hours last night because of a downed utility pole.

Police said the pole along the Kailua-bound lanes near Puiwa Road and the Queen Emma Summer Palace was knocked down during a traffic accident at 6:42 p.m.

Police said no one was injured in the accident.

LEEWARD OAHU

Phony cop fails to fool workers in Waianae

Police have opened an attempted-murder investigation after a man posing as a retired federal agent tried to run over another man in Waianae

Police said the impersonator went to a Lualualei Homestead Road address looking for someone there. He became enraged when a 39-year-old man asked him to leave. He then declared he was a retired federal agent and threatened to begin an investigation.

The impersonator drove his vehicle toward the other man, who was trying to get a good look at the license plate.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Hit-and-run suspect surrenders to police

WAILUKU >> The suspected driver in a hit-and-run traffic death in west Maui turned himself in to police yesterday.

The Lahaina man, 39, was accompanied by his attorney and declined to give a statement or to be interviewed by police, traffic investigator Stacey Yamashita said. He was arrested and then released pending investigation. Yamashita said the man's 2000 silver Toyota 4Runner was impounded for investigation. Police said a man walking along Honoapiilani Highway was struck near Puukolii Road about 2:10 p.m. Sunday. He was identified as a 50-year-old Lahaina man, but his name was being withheld while police try to notify his family.

The vehicle fled, but police recovered a headlight and a turn signal light at the scene.

CENTRAL OAHU

Backpack may help ID officer's attacker

Police are hoping the contents of a backpack may help identify the man who stole a police officer's sport utility vehicle and tried to run him over in Whitmore Village Monday night.

Police were trying to get a search warrant today to open a backpack that was recovered from one of the vehicles involved in the incident.

The officer stopped a speeding motorist and was issuing him a ticket about 6 p.m. at Uakanikoo Place and Uakanikoo Street, police said.

Police said the officer suspected the car was stolen and tried to arrest him. The man got into his car and sped off, injuring the officer as he fled. He abandoned the car after he was trapped in a cul-de-sac.

The officer ran after the man, who then jumped into the officer's vehicle and began driving toward the officer, police said. The officer fired at the suspect, and the bullets struck the SUV.

The man drove off in the SUV, later found on Waipahu Street, police said.

The suspect was described as in his 30s, slender, clean-cut, with a dark complexion.