Weekly Hawaiian language class offered
"Brown Bagging to Conversational Hawaiian: A Language Awareness and Conversational Class for the Busy Person" is offered every Wednesday in the old Archives on the Diamond-Head side of Iolani Palace grounds.The classes, sponsored by the Friends of Iolani Palace, are held at 11 a.m. and again at noon.
Cost is $5 per session, and students are asked to register and pay at the beginning of each month. For more information, call Keola at 522-0827.
Waianae library begins fall reading program
Waianae Public Library wants children to participate in its third annual fall reading program, "Fall in Love with Books!"Participants in the program, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 12, are encouraged to read at least 20 minutes a day. Children up to grade 6 are eligible.
Prizes will be awarded to program participants. For more information, call 697-7868.
Library for the blind shifts Saturday hours
The new Saturday hours for the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, at 402 Kapahulu Ave., are 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.The hours have been changed because Saturday patrons generally visit the library in the morning, according to the library's informal surveys.
Books may be ordered during closed hours by leaving a message on the answering machine.
For more information, call the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at 733-8444.
AlohaCare program grows by 55 percent
The nonprofit AlohaCare health plan serving state QUEST members now has more than 43,000 enrollees -- an increase this year of nearly 55 percent, the program said.Two QUEST health plan programs closed earlier this year, requiring re-enrollment of 32,000 residents into a new plan during the open enrollment period in May.
AlohaCare members from infants to 21 years old are encouraged to obtain regular health examinations through a national program called Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis Testing. The screening is offered at no charge to AlohaCare members.
Dr. Rio Banner, AlohaCare medical director, said the plan focuses on preventive health care and early detection, especially for pregnant women and children.
QUEST provides health insurance for more than 125,000 residents who can't afford private coverage or don't qualify for other programs.
For more information, call 1-800-434-1002.
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>> The jeweler who championed a Hawaii ferry system was the late Connie Conrad. His last name was misspelled as Corned in a story on page E1 Sunday. Corrections and clarifications
>> This week's Football Fever ballot in the Sports section lists an incorrect game, Notre Dame at Michigan. All contest entrants will be credited as picking that game correctly.
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 staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
LEEWARD OAHU
3 broken utility poles close road, cut power
Three broken utility poles on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli cut off power to about 5,000 customers on the Leeward Coast and caused a huge traffic jam for several hours yesterday.Termites damaged the poles, causing them to break and lean dangerously across the highway, said HECO spokesman Fred Kobashikawa. As a precaution, power was shut off from about 3 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
A portion of the highway was closed and homeward-bound traffic was delayed past nightfall. HECO crews worked last night to replace the poles to allow for normal traffic flow this morning.
Police seek suspect in building-supplies theft
Honolulu police want help identifying the person who stole an estimated $3,000 worth of building supplies last month.Police said a man ordered building supplies over the telephone from a Honolulu company. He pretended that the supplies were for a well-known builder and had the goods delivered to a vacant lot on Waianae Valley Road on Aug. 1.
The man who received the goods was described as in his late 30s to early 40s, 5-foot-6, 200 pounds, with a medium build, black wavy hair, brown eyes and missing his top front teeth.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gail Lovediro at 692-4414, CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle escapee caught at Puna home
Big Island police have arrested a 38-year-old inmate who was discovered missing Sept. 10 after a head count at Kulani Correctional Facility. Officers arrested Gary R. Castro at 9 a.m. yesterday at an Orchid Land Estates residence in Puna.
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[ THE COURTS ]
Professional surfer faces theft charge
Professional surfer John D. Gomes, more popularly known as Johnny Boy Gomes, has pleaded not guilty to stealing more than $8,000 in Social Security survivor benefits that belonged to someone else.An indictment charging Gomes, 37, with second-degree theft alleges that he obtained checks intended for Flora Farrell between Jan. 2, 2001, and June 21, 2001, that had mistakenly been sent to her although she had died on Feb. 24, 2000.
Gomes' attorney, Hayden Aluli, declined comment.
Trial for Gomes was set for Nov. 18.
Murder suspect admits he took part in killing
One of two defendants set to begin trial yesterday for the July 2001 slaying in Waianae of William Van Winkle has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against his codefendant.Branden Adkins admitted yesterday that he kicked the body and head of Van Winkle and knowingly caused his death, said Jim Fulton of the city Prosecutor's Office.
Because of Adkins' plea, the state dropped a portion of the murder charge that called for an extended sentence to life without parole based on the heinousness of the crime.
Deputy Prosecutor Franklin Pacarro Jr. said he had intended to submit as evidence that Van Winkle was stomped on, beaten, punched and kicked in the head and that Adkins had allegedly stated to others that he had snapped the victim's neck.
In his plea before Circuit Judge Sandra Simms, Adkins did not admit to snapping Williams' neck.
Adkins faces a life term with parole when sentenced Feb. 11. His codefendant, Victor Faagau, a juvenile who was waived by Family Court, will be tried as an adult.
The two were among a group of teens accused of confronting Van Winkle during the early morning hours of July 14, 2001, at Waianae District Park.
A jogger later found Van Winkle's beaten body, naked from the waist down, on the basketball courts at the park. He died of blunt head trauma.
