Pali and Kalanianaole highways are still slow
Some lanes along Kalanianaole and Pali highways will be closed this week for roadwork and telephone line installations.The right lane of Pali Highway, Kailua-bound, from the emergency truck ramp to beyond Castle Junction and the left-turn lane from Kamehameha Highway onto the Kailua-bound Kalanianaole Highway will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting today through Friday. Workers from the state Department of Transportation will install new telephone duct lines along Pali and Kamehameha highways.
A Koko Head-bound lane on Kalanianaole Highway will also be closed between Ainakoa Avenue and West Hind Drive starting today through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for resurfacing and waterline work.
Motorists should anticipate delays, allow for extra travel time and use caution while driving through the area or take an alternate route, state transportation officials said.
Lawyer suspended over settlement funds
The Hawaii Supreme Court has suspended a Honolulu attorney from practicing law for more than a year after he misappropriated client settlement funds that were claimed by the state.According to a news release issued Friday by the Hawaii Supreme Court, Neal J. Kugiya deposited a settlement check into his business rather than his client's trust account. Kugiya then misappropriated $7,500 that was slated for the state. Moreover, he failed to pay the state the amount after numerous reminders and a lawsuit filed against him. He also failed to provide his client with a written statement and mislabeled his business account.
Kugiya was admitted to the Hawaii Bar on May 9, 1986, and is a graduate of Lewis and Clark College. His suspension becomes effective Sept. 23.
Surgery an option against morbid obesity
A free seminar on gastric bypass surgery, designed to save the lives of morbidly obese people, will be held Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kuakini Medical Center.Dr. Brandt Lapschies will describe the procedure in Kuakini's PB No. 5 classroom. He will also talk about the risks and benefits of surgery as a weight loss option.
More than 1.5 million Americans are morbidly obese, meaning they have a body mass index number of 40 or more or are 100 pounds or more above their ideal weight, according to Kuakini Medical Center.
Seating is limited to the first 100 people. Parking will be validated. For more information, call the Kuakini Bariatric Hotline, 547-9007.
East-West Center gets $90,000 from Taiwan
The East-West Center received $90,000 from Taiwan to support private-sector development in Pacific Island nations.Taiwan Trade Mission representative Fu-Tien Liu announced the award Wednesday in Suva, Fiji.
The money will go to the East-West Center's Pacific Islands Development program for two projects:
>> A market survey of Pacific Islanders living in the western United States. This survey would determine their needs for products and services that could best be provided by the private sector in Pacific Island nations.
>> A workshop to discuss the survey's results and develop ways to implement its ideas.
The survey will also use information from the 2000 U.S. census, which interviewed Pacific Islanders separately from Asians for the first time, said Sitiveni Halapua, director of the PIDP.
The projects are supported by the United States/Pacific Island Nations Joint Commercial Commission, which promotes trade between the Pacific islands and the United States.
MCC due to become UH-Maui by fall 2004
KAHULUI, Maui >> The transformation of Maui Community College into the University of Hawaii-Maui is expected to be completed by the fall of 2003 or the fall of 2004, at the latest.But Maui Community College Provost Clyde Sakamoto, who is in charge of the change, says the accreditation process for the new school would take at least six years.
Last September, UH President Evan Dobelle assigned Sakamoto to plan the process of turning the Valley Isle's two-year community college into a four-year university. Sakamoto told the Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui on Friday that UH-Maui's first offerings will be a bachelor's degree in applied business and information technology.
A limited number of bachelor's degrees are already offered through the UH Center on Maui.
But Sakamoto said the creation of a four-year institution on Maui is still critical.
The community college component would continue to offer its associate degree programs and other technical degrees and certificates, he said.
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. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
LEEWARD OAHU
Woman in car dies after collision with van
A 21-year-old woman died this morning in a two-vehicle collision in Pearl City.Police said the woman was a passenger in a car making a left turn from Kamehameha Highway onto Puumomi Street about 12:18 a.m. when it collided with an on-coming van on the highway.
The woman, whose named was not released, was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition and later died.
The car driver, a 22-year-old man, also was injured and taken to Queen's. He was listed in fair condition this morning.
The van driver, a 19-year-old woman, received minor injuries and was treated and released.
Police said all the occupants were wearing seatbelts.
Gunshot wounds man in aborted drug deal
Police are searching for a man who shot another man just after midnight yesterday at the Kaleiopuu Elementary School park in Village Park.The 21-year-old victim told police he had arranged to buy drugs from the suspect in the park.
Police said after the victim changed his mind and returned to his car, the suspect followed him and pulled out a gun to demand money.
The gun went off, injuring the victim in his thigh and his hand, police said. The suspect fled with two other men, police said.
The victim was taken by his girlfriend to St. Francis Medical Center-West, where he was in fair condition yesterday.
WINDWARD OAHU
Man injures ear of roommate with pen
A man was charged with assault for allegedly striking his roommate with a pen, which resulted in the pen's cap to be stuck in the roommate's ear, police said.Roland Vandenburg, 36, of Kailua, was charged yesterday. Bail was set at $11,000.
Officers dispatched to the Kailua home at 11:20 p.m. Friday found Vandenburg's roommate, 21-year-old man, bleeding from the left ear.
The roommate was taken to Castle Medical Center where the cap was removed from his ear a quarter inch away from his ear drum.
Waikiki
Police cite drugs, theft in arrest at Ala Wai
Police arrested a 34-year-old man at the Ala Wai boat harbor Saturday night for investigation of auto theft and drug possession.An officer found the suspect sitting next to a container of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," and a pipe in a 1991 Nissan, police said.
Police declined to release other details of the case.
Waimanalo man held for drug possession
Police arrested a 24-year-old Waimanalo man at the Waikiki Trade Center yesterday morning for drug possession and disorderly conduct investigation.Police said they found cocaine and the drug "ecstasy" on the suspect after he was arrested at 3:40 a.m.
HONOLULU
Cops use checkpoints to find impaired drivers
Police have been setting up checkpoints to help keep impaired drivers off the road. The checkpoints began Friday and will continue through Sept. 3.Police said the checkpoints, in anticipation of the upcoming Labor Day weekend, will be set up at unannounced times and locations.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Assault charges filed after man hurt in fight
A 21-year-old Lihue man was flown by helicopter to Queen's Medical Center after fighting with an acquaintance early yesterday at Ahukini pier in Lihue, officials said.Justin Joseph Stiles, 20, of Kapaa, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree assault. Bail was set at $10,000.
Kauai county officials said the two men argued Saturday night but shook hands and parted. However, they fought after meeting again at the pier about 3 p.m.
The victim, suffering injuries to his face, was taken first to Wilcox Hospital and then flown to Honolulu.
