2 people arrested in airport contract scam
The state arrested two more people yesterday in its ongoing investigation of alleged bid-rigging of small purchase contracts at Honolulu Airport.Michael and Frances Furukawa were arrested for theft, conspiracy to commit theft and forgery. The Furukawas owned several companies and were part owner of another company, all of which had submitted bids on small purchase contracts at the airport, according to investigators with the state Attorney General's Office.
AG officials said yesterday that they froze bank and investments accounts of one or more of the Furukawas' companies, which they believed to contain funds obtained from the small purchase contracts similar to those under investigation.
AG officials also noted that Michael Furukawa is the cousin of Richard Okada, a former administrator at the airport who was arrested in the case earlier this year.
Including the Furukawas, the state has arrested seven people in this case. None has been charged.
Council to meet on lease-to-fee bill
The City Council's Executive Matters Committee will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Oct. 9 to consider Bill 53, the controversial condominium lease-to-fee conversion bill.If the committee passes the bill that day, it would be up for approval by the Council on Oct. 16, according to committee Chairman John Henry Felix.
The bill has generated controversy because of its potential effects. Introduced in June, it was designed to address a Hawaii State Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that said the city's use of its own lease-to-fee ordinance was wrong.
While lease-to-fee proponents believe Bill 53 is simply a housekeeping measure, opponents say it would greatly increase the number of allowable conversions and hurt landowners, including native Hawaiian trusts that depend on lease income to fund programs.
Former naval worker charged in kickbacks
A federal grand jury has charged a former naval employee with accepting payments from and providing kickbacks to government contractors.The federal indictment, which was filed yesterday, said John Frederick Jr. was working in Hawaii for the Department of the Navy as a "construction representative" between June 1998 and January 1999. During that time, prosecutors said Frederick accepted payments from a government contractor whose contracts he was responsible for inspecting.
The indictment also said Frederick paid cash kickbacks to the employee of a government contractor in connection with a subcontract awarded to Frederick's business.
8 sets of remains from Korean War due here
The remains of eight servicemen who died in the Korean War and were recovered in North Korea are scheduled to arrive at Hickam Air Force Base tomorrow morning.Three sets of remains recovered by a team from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory are believed to belong to soldiers or Marines who fought in the Chosin Reservoir area.
The 1st Marine Division and the Army's 31st Regimental Combat Team lost 1,100 service members fighting the Chinese there in November and December 1950.
A second CILHI team recovered five sets of remains along the Chong Chon River near the junction of Unsan and Kujang counties, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang.
The area was the site of battles between communist forces and the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry and 25th Infantry divisions in November 1950.
The remains will be transported to the CILHI, where the largest forensic anthropology staff in the world will analyze them for potential identification.
Since 1996 the United States has negotiated with North Korea to allow the laboratory access to battlefields to conduct recovery operations. In all there have been 28 joint recovery operations into North Korea.
There is one more mission into North Korea this year. It will consist of two search and recovery teams and four investigative elements.
More than 33,000 Americans were killed in the Korean War. More than 8,100 are missing.
UH regents honor work of researchers
The University of Hawaii Regents' Medal for Excellence in Research was recently awarded to four UH researchers for their scholarly contributions:
>> Marc Fossorier, an associate professor in the Electrical Engineering Department of UH-Manoa's College of Engineering. Fossorier is internationally recognized for his research in communications and coding. Fossorier has received other awards, including two National Science Foundation Awards in 1998 and 2001.>> Margaret McFall-Ngai and Edward Ruby are researchers at the UH-Manoa Pacific Biomedical Research Center's Kewalo Marine Laboratory. The two have had more than 100 professional papers published in journals such as Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They have generated more than $5.9 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health and the Keck Foundation.
>> Stephen Olsen, professor in the Department of Physics at UH-Manoa. Olsen has been a researcher in high-energy physics for more than 20 years. He has led teams at KEK, the National Laboratory for High Energy Physics in Japan. His published papers play an integral role in bringing in more than $2 million a year from the U.S. Department of Energy to the UH High Energy Physics Group, according to the university.
COURTESY TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER PAO
Donations from the Hawaii Army National Guard and Air National Guard allowed six children with diabetes to swim with the dolphins Aug. 30 at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
State ID cards available at Windward Mall on Oct. 5
Oahu residents will be able to obtain state ID cards on Oct. 5 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Windward Mall.State personnel plan to be at the Macy's wing near the information booth and center court to provide this service.
First priority will be given to individuals with completed applications and required certified documents.
The state ID costs $10 for citizens aged 65 and older and $15 for other Oahu residents. The card will be processed and mailed to the applicant within five to 10 working days.
For information on application requirements, call 587-3111 or visit the state Web site at www.state.hi.us/hcjdc. Application forms can also be obtained on the Web site or at the Windward Mall information booth.
Seminar offers tips on building a family
RESOLVE of Hawaii is holding its fourth all-day seminar, "Family Building: Challenges and Choices," Saturday at the Queen's Conference Center, 510 S. Beretania St.The conference aims to help people who have been trying to conceive a child for more than six months.
Topics will include adoption, male factor fertility, mind-body healing, in vitro fertilization, egg donation and the impact of infertility on relationships. A workshop, new this year, will focus on people who have one child but have difficulty conceiving a second one.
The conference also will include time for questions, a chance to talk with the speakers, information packages, continental breakfast and lunch.
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the seminar following from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
For more information, call RESOLVE of Hawaii's HelpLine, 528-8559, or see www.resolveofhawaii.org.
RESOLVE of Hawaii provides support, education and advocacy for people experiencing infertility.
Event gives new moms support and pampering
More than 35 organizations will provide prenatal and postnatal education and services to women tomorrow during "Healthy & Hapai Day: Look Good Feel Great!" at the McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park.Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii and collaborating agencies are sponsoring the event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with services for pregnant women and those who have delivered babies within the past six months.
It is planned as "a stress-free day of support and pampering" with free services such as haircuts, manicures and massages for mother and child.
Childbirth preparation, smoking cessation, breast-feeding consultation and support, and infant/toddler read-aloud activities will be offered.
Free on-site child care will be provided, as well as refreshments and prizes donated by local businesses.
For more information, call 951-5805 or e-mail kariw@hmhb-hawaii.org.
Volunteers needed to aid in Kuakini care
Kuakini Medical Center is looking for volunteers to help with patient care and nonpatient care.Flexible shifts are offered Monday through Friday, primarily during day hours. Orientation and training are provided by Kuakini's Volunteer Services Department.
Applicants must be at least 14 years old and available to work at least one shift per week. They must show proof of a negative two-step TB clearance.
For more information or to volunteer, call 547-9184.
Golf tourney to benefit isle leukemia group
Swing 4 Leukemia, a golf tournament to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, will be held Oct. 24 at the Kapolei Golf Course.The tournament is open to individuals and three-man teams.
Entry deadline is Sept. 30. and a portion of the fee is tax-deductible.
For more information, call 589-1461 or see www.geocities.com/swing4leukemia.
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Iolani School graduate Xin (Amy) Yin represented Hawaii this summer at the National Youth Science Camp. [Taking Notice]
She was one of 96 high school graduates selected nationally to participate in the four-week program in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The camp incorporated science, outdoors experience, arts and music.
Scientists from all disciplines directed studies and lectured at the camp on topics such as anthrax and bioterrorism, neurobiology and genetic disorders, behavior of the spotted hyena, the Human Genome Project and galactic astronomy.
"One directed study on the human brain was an incredible experience for me," said Yin, who plans to study neuroscience this fall at Brown University. "It allowed me to explore a whole new area of science that I had not been privy to."
The students investigated pathology of genetically engineered mice and studied avian behavioral ecology, techniques of forensic medicine and anatomy of the hand and brain.
|"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
>> The advertising manager at Servco Pacific Inc., the Toyota dealer in Hawaii, is Paul Lam. His named was spelled incorrectly in a story on Page C1 on Tuesday. Corrections and clarifications
>> Joshua Ayonayon, who died in a Maui traffic accident, lived in Happy Valley, not Iao Valley as reported incorrectly in an article Tuesday on Page A3.
>> Mike Abe, a candidate for the City Council 4th District seat, spent about $45,000 on his campaign although he placed more than $70,000 of his own money in his campaign spending account. A story on Page A4 on Sunday incorrectly stated that he had spent $70,000.
>> City Council candidate Charles Djou is a state representative. A Page A1 article and photo caption Monday incorrectly referred to him as a former representative.
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
Residents escape Niu Valley fire
Two people escaped unharmed this morning when fire broke out in their Niu Valley home. Fire officials said a woman in her 40s awoke about 3:30 a.m. to find fire and then alerted her father, who is in his 70s. Damage from the fire at 5743 Kalanianaole Highway was estimated at $185,000. The fire also damaged cars and a neighboring home. Fire officials were investigating the cause of the fire and focusing on an electrical outlet in one of the bedrooms as the origin of the fire.
CRIMESTOPPERS
Honolulu police are asking for the public's help in locating a man who robbed the Bank of Hawaii branch downtown. The suspect is 5-feet-10 and about 200 pounds.
Police ask public's aid in catching bank robber
Honolulu police want help locating the man who robbed the Bank of Hawaii branch at 111 S. King St. yesterday morning.Police said the suspect walked into the bank at 7:41 a.m., approached the bank teller, demanded cash, then fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
The suspect is described as in his 30s, 5-feet-10, about 200 pounds, with a medium build, a mustache and bald.
He was last seen wearing eyeglasses, a blue short-sleeve shirt and dark-colored long pants.
Anyone with information is asked to call robbery detective Gordon Makishima at 529-3383 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
