Surgeon general has Tripler appendectomy
U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona was recovering at Tripler Army Medical Center yesterday after having his appendix removed in a weekend operation, officials said.Carmona, 53, admitted himself to Tripler about 4 a.m. Sunday with intense stomach pain, spokesman Craig Stevens said. Doctors performed the 45-minute procedure about 10 p.m. that night, after extensive tests ruled out other problems.
He was expected to make a full recovery and be released from the hospital "within a couple of days," said Maj. Stanley Zagorski, staff general surgeon at Tripler, who performed the operation.
In a statement released by his office yesterday, Carmona said: "This sure is a tough way to get my first rest since taking the job. I'm looking forward to getting back to my full schedule as soon as my doctor and my wife let me, probably right after the holidays."
Carmona was in Honolulu to address a research symposium and meet with state and federal health officials.
An appendectomy is unusual for men in their 50s, Zagorski said, but he noted Carmona is in excellent overall health, which will help his recovery.
Carmona is a former Green Beret who became a trauma surgeon. He was tapped in March to serve as the nation's chief doctor.
Kamehameha Schools plans study of rockfalls
A Kamehameha Schools official announced a plan yesterday to assess the danger of 100-ton boulders perched above the Lalea townhouse subdivision in Hawaii Kai.Part of the plan is to provide for residents' safety, which Kamehameha and Castle & Cooke officials did by offering to evacuate 26 Lalea unit owners Friday to the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Neil Hannahs, director of the land assets division for Kamehameha Schools, said officials are looking for homes in the East Honolulu area for those who have moved out. So far, residents of 16 units are staying at the Hilton. More residents plan to move to the Hilton this week.
"We need to take care of the residents," Hannahs said.
Two boulders fell between buildings 7130 and 7168 on Thanksgiving Day and crashed into two vehicles.
The plan also calls for determining how to prevent additional rockfalls and who is responsible for costs relating to the rockfall.
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[ TAKING NOTICE ]
>> The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Commission has named Ronald Yamakawa its new executive director. He was hired in 1976 by the foundation as the first employee of the Art in Public Places Program, and served as program manager since 1989. Yamakawa has served as interim director since February.
>> The Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society has recognized the following for their commitment to improving the lives of older people in Hawaii:
Communication/Arts: Kathy Muneno, KITV 4 news, for volunteer service at Kuakini Medical Center.
Community Service: Anthony Kreig, president/CEO of Hale Makua Nursing Facility on Maui, for his role in developing the facility.
Research/Teaching: Professor James Pietsch, University of Hawaii at Manoa's law school, for being a driving force in elder law.
Business: Hawaii Housing Development Corp., represented by President Randy Moore and Project Manager Gary Furuta, for building affordable housing for elders.
Shannon Miyazaki, a student majoring in premed at UH Manoa, was recognized as the Hideo "Major" Okada scholar.
>> Mike McKenna of Windward Ford in Kailua is one of 53 nominees for the 2003 National Automobile Dealers Association convention. Winners will be announced in February in San Francisco. McKenna was nominated for providing outstanding customer service and his Project Grad, an end-of-the-year celebration to encourage alcohol-free and drug-free celebrations for graduating seniors.
>> The Hawaii State Award of Excellence has bestowed its Noelo Po'okela Award to Parsons-UXB Joint Venture and the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Parsons and UXB, joined solely to remove explosives from Kahoolawe, have shown strong management approaches to complete the project on time with excellent levels of performance. The Waianae center provides health care to more than 21,000 patients, who are predominantly native Hawaiians.
The HSAE award promotes excellence in organizational performance and is administered by the American Society for Quality, Hawaii Section, and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.
>> The Hawaii Construction Industry Association has announced the following officers: Thaddeus Tomei, chairman; James Ramirez, first vice chairman; Bucky Bradshaw, second vice chairman; Wai Lik Chan, treasurer; Allan Los Banos, secretary; Edmund Aczon, past chairman; Brian Lee, executive director.
>> The Lanakila Rehabilitation Center has announced that Ko Miyataki, former president of the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation from 1993 to 2001, has been elected to its board of directors. She is also development director for the Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation.
>> Guobin Yang, an assistant professor of sociology and a faculty member of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has received a $75,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for research and writing on the adoption of technology. He is one of 30 winners who were chosen from more than 460 applicants worldwide.
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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
CENTRAL OAHU
Mililani fire damages townhouse and home
A two-alarm fire gutted a Mililani townhouse and damaged an adjacent home this morning, the Honolulu Fire Department reported.Spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said the townhouse at 94-275 Kupulau St. was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived shortly after 9:13 a.m. Additional units were called and the fire was reported under control at 9:26 a.m.
The American Red Cross was called in to assist two families, including two children, who lived in the two units. No ambulances were called to the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Man allegedly throws girlfriend off bridge
Police arrested an 18-year-old man yesterday after he allegedly threw his girlfriend off the Wilson Bridge in Wahiawa.Police said the suspect was seen carrying the 18-year-old victim while she was screaming and threw her off the bridge about noon. However, police said the victim grabbed the suspect as she fell, and both landed on Ohai Street about 20 feet below.
The suspect began choking the victim after landing but stopped after seeing several witnesses, police said. Police later arrested the suspect for investigation in attempted murder.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police look for 2 men in video store robbery
Police want help finding two gunmen who robbed Video Warehouse at 98-019 Kamehameha Highway in Waimalu Thursday night.Police said the men entered the store at 11:55 p.m. One man, armed with a handgun, demanded money from the cashier. The other man, armed with a shotgun and disguised in an opaque mask, demanded car keys from a customer.
The robbers fled in a stolen silver Grand Marquis, which was recovered on nearby Kaluamoi Drive about half an hour later, police said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Taro Nakamura at 529-3382 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Police seek Nanakuli mini-mart gunman
Police are looking for a gunman who robbed Aloha Island Mini Mart in Nanakuli about 10:45 p.m. yesterday.Police said the robber with a chrome-plated handgun went into the store at 94-767 Farrington Highway and demanded money from an employee. He fled after he was given an undisclosed amount of money.
The robber was described as in his 20s, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 9, with a tattoo on his right arm.
HONOLULU
Man sought in robbery of Waikiki Euro Hut
Police are looking for man who robbed Euro Hut, 159 Kaiulani Ave., in Waikiki, yesterday.A 76-year-old salesclerk reported that a man went into the store about 5:30 p.m. and pretended to be shopping. He approached the clerk with a pair of sunglasses, but when the clerk opened the cash register, the robber brandished a black handgun and demanded money.
The robber grabbed cash from the register and fled. He was described as in his 40s, 5 feet 8, 155 pounds, and wearing a gray shirt and black pants.
Man, 36, arrested after nightclub fight
Police arrested a 36-year-old man Saturday after he allegedly stomped on another man's head during a fight at a nightclub near Honolulu Airport.Police said a 19-year-old man and the suspect were fighting about 11:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Gussie L'amours at 3251 N. Nimitz Highway
Police said the victim bit off a piece of the suspect's lower lip. Police said the suspect returned to the nightclub after the fight.
Ten minutes later, police said, the 19-year-old was involved in another fight where he was knocked down. Police said the man with the injured lip left the nightclub and jumped on the other man's head.
Police said the victim was taken to Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.
Police arrested the 36-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree assault. Police said they plan to arrest the 19-year-old for suspicion of second-degree assault once he is released from the hospital.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Mahuna selected as Big Isle police chief
HILO >> The Hawaii County Police Commission voted 7-1 yesterday to select acting police Chief Lawrence Mahuna as the new chief.Serving with the department just short of 30 years, Mahuna, 52, has been acting chief since Aug. 10, after former Chief James Correa left to head federal airport security in Kona.
Mahuna was chosen for the $91,559-per-year post over three other finalists who also serve in the department.
Following his selection, Mahuna said one change he will make will be to assign one of three assistant chiefs in the department to Kona. All three are currently assigned to Hilo.
He also will enlarge community policing activities, starting in Kona. That means permanently assigning officers to specific beats instead of frequently switching their assignments.
Woman shot in head is transferred to Oahu
WAILUKU >> A 44-year-old Maui woman recovering from a gunshot wound to her head has been transferred to a medical center on Oahu.Kristine Dietz was listed in critical condition yesterday but was expected to recover. She was shot Wednesday night in her Hale Royale Condominium home in West Maui.
The suspect shot her, then himself with a .357 revolver at about 7:50 p.m., said police Lt. Lenie Lawrence.
Lawrence said the suspect is in critical condition at Maui Memorial Medical Center. The suspect had a fascination with Dietz, but the feeling was not mutual, he said.
Police later found him in a pineapple field mauka of the Kapalua Airport. Lawrence said the case is being investigated as an attempted murder.
