Program offers help to stay married
Couples who are divorced, separated, considering separation or in counseling but still want to make their marriage work are invited to a program Friday through Sunday.Three married couples and a priest present the Retrouvaille program, held twice a year at St. Stephen's Diocesan Center on Pali Highway. It is a weekend program with 12 follow-up sessions.
The team couples will share personal experiences of struggle, reconciliation and healing of conflict and anger.
Those attending are not asked to share their problems, but will be encouraged to look beyond the hurt and pain and rediscover each other in a positive way.
A $50 nonrefundable deposit is required, and a donation is requested at the end of the program.
More information can be obtained by calling Steve and Deni Smith, of Kailua, 222-2545, or visiting the Retrouvaille International Web site at www.retrouvaille.org.
Blood bank sets March donation drive schedule
The Blood Bank of Hawaii will hold blood drives at the following Oahu locations:
>> Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kaimuki Municipal Parking Lot (corner of 10th and Harding avenues)Donors must be in good health, 18 years of age or older, weigh 110 pounds or more and present a valid photo ID. To make an appointment or for more information, call the Blood Bank of Hawaii at 845-9966 or visit www.bbh.org.
>> Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Town Center of Mililani
>> March 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chaminade University
>> March 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Windward Community College (Hale Akoakoa, Room 101)
>> March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Times Kaneohe
>> March 16, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kmart Kapolei
>> March 18, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., University of Hawaii at Manoa (Gilmore Hall, Room 212)
>> March 22, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Town Center of Mililani
>> March 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hawaii Kai Towne Center
>> March 24, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Laie Shopping Center
>> March 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Windward Mall (Macy's wing across Foot Locker)
>> March 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Manoa Shopping Center
>> March 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sam's Club
State Democratic Party chief steps down
Lorraine Akiba has stepped down as chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii to concentrate on her legal career."It's a nonelection year. ... I felt this was a good time to make a transition," Akiba said.
Akiba notified the party's executive committee of her decision to step down on Feb. 24. She has been chairwoman of the Democratic Party since spring of 2001.
Akiba was director of the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations from December 1994 to June 2000, when she left to become a partner at the law firm McCorriston, Miller, Mukai and MacKinnon.
The Democratic Party's central committee will select an interim chairperson before a permanent one is elected during its state convention in May 2004.
Open-meetings exemption bill dies
The bill exempting County Councils from the state open-meetings law has died at the state Legislature.Senate Bill 314, S.D. 1, was introduced by Sen. Cal Kawamoto, chairman of the Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations Committee, at the request of the Honolulu City Council. The bill had until Friday to be heard by the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee.
The bill called for County Councils to be excluded from the sunshine law and to follow their own ordinances, charters or Council rules concerning open-meeting requirements.
Some organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and the state Office of Information Practices, opposed the bill.
Ex-officer's murder trial to begin Sept. 8
HILO >> Trial for a former Big Island police detective accused of fatally shooting his wife is set to begin Sept. 8.Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura set the date Friday after ruling that Albert Pacheco is mentally fit to stand trial for the death of Cathalene Pacheco.
Nakamura's ruling followed the assessments of a psychiatrist and two psychologists.
Pacheco, 46, has pleaded innocent to murder, criminal property damage, terroristic threatening and use of a firearm in a felony.
He is accused of ramming his wife's van with his car, then shooting her numerous times in the head and neck with his police handgun on Jan. 4, 2001, near their Waikoloa Village home. Pacheco resigned from the police force a month later. Two police officers testified at a preliminary hearing that Pacheco admitted to the killing.
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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
HONOLULU
Traffic disrupted by water main break
A water main break near the intersection of Middle and Rose streets about midnight forced police to close one lane on Middle Street to morning rush-hour traffic.The break to a six-inch main also cut off water service to about 50 customers on Rose Street. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply dispatched water wagons to the area. Crews repaired the pipe about 8:30 a.m. and were expected to finish repairs to the roadway by the end of the day.
2 suspects are sought in robbery-kidnapping
Police are looking for two male suspects in a robbery-kidnapping case yesterday.Police said that at about 4:59 a.m. a 26-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were walking toward their car parked at Like Like Drive Inn at 745 Keeaumoku St. when a gray four-door Acura pulled up next to them.
Police said the two suspects got out of the car, and one of the men brandished a silver handgun and demanded money from the male victim. Meanwhile, the second suspect attempted to pull the woman into the suspects' vehicle, police said.
The suspects fled when the couple began yelling for help, police said.
The first suspect is described as in his 20s, 5 feet 9, wearing a black jacket and a bandana on his face. The second suspect is described as in his 20s, 5 feet 10, with a chunky build and wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.
1 teen detention-home escapee caught at mall
Police have caught one of two boys who escaped from a detention facility Friday.A 15-year-old boy was found at Windward Mall on Saturday afternoon and was returned to the Alder Street detention home.
About 6:50 p.m. Friday, the 15-year-old and a 14-year-old escaped from the facility through an unlocked door.
NORTH SHORE
Motorcyclist critical after crash in Waialua
A 37-year-old Honolulu man is in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center from injuries he suffered after crashing his motorcycle in Waialua last night.Police said the man was traveling toward Waialua town on Kaukonahua Road just past the Wilikina Drive intersection about 11 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected. Police said the man may have been speeding.
He was wearing a helmet.
CENTRAL OAHU
Missing woman found OK at home of friend
Detectives with the Honolulu Police Department's Missing Persons Detail found 34-year-old Florita Dela Cruz at a friend's house in Wahiawa on Friday night after she was reported missing a week earlier.Dela Cruz was last seen Feb. 22 on Alapio Road in Wahiawa about 5 p.m. Detective Phil Camero said Dela Cruz had an argument with her boyfriend and left her home. Camero said Dela Cruz is fine and was not physically harmed.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
2 men are charged with attempted robbery
Maui police have charged two men with second-degree attempted robbery after they allegedly attacked a man in Kihei on Saturday morning.Police said Todd Cudlipp, 22, and Jonathan Smith, 18, repeatedly punched and kicked a 53-year-old man as they tried to take money from him.
The attack happened about 7:30 a.m. in the Halama Street area. The victim suffered injuries to his face, police said.
