Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
Donated computers will
help clients learn skills>> Bank of Hawaii recently donated 12 computers to the Ho'omau Ke Ola Substance Abuse Treatment Center in Waianae to help the center's clients learn vocational skills.
>> The Atherton Foundation and AIG have each contributed $100,000 to the USS Arizona Memorial Fund Campaign, which has raised nearly $3 million. The campaign aims to raise $10 million to double the size of the USS Arizona Memorial Museum and expand the visitor center at Pearl Harbor.
>> First Hawaiian Foundation has given $100,000 to Chaminade University of Honolulu to help it with major renovation of the Henry Hall science facilities.
>> The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Beverly Foundation have awarded a $750 grant to Project Dana, of Honolulu, a transportation program that provides rides for people who cannot drive.
>> Goodwill Industries of Hawaii's 12th Annual Fundraising Auction earned close to $59,102 to help find employment for the disabled.
>> Honolulu Printmakers has received grants from the following foundations to support its historical catalogue, "A Tradition of Gift Prints," which celebrates 75 years of printmaking in Hawaii: the state Foundation on Culture and the Arts, $11,810; McInerny Foundation, $10,000; Atherton Family Foundation, $5,000; John Chin Young Foundation, $2,000; Jean Charlot Foundation, $1,000; Hon Chew Hee Estate, $500; Smith Street Gallery, $500; and the Kate and John Kelly Art Foundation, $500.
"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana,
Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Stephen Kula named to lead Arc in Hawaii
The Arc in Hawaii, which cares for mentally retarded people, recently named Stephen Kula its executive director, effective April 14.Lambert Wai served as interim executive director of the nonprofit agency after Garrett Toguchi resigned in February.
Kula previously was an administrator at Hospice Hawaii. He has master's degrees in science and business administration.
Lono Lee is appointed a district court judge
Hawaii Chief Justice Ronald Moon appointed Lono Lee as a Honolulu district court judge yesterday.Lee will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of George Kimura.
Lee has been a per diem district court judge since 2000. He has been in private practice since 1999 and provides legal services to the city Ethics Commission. He also served as a deputy corporation counsel for Honolulu for 10 years.
Lee's appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
Walking tour will cover historic Manoa homes
The public will get a rare chance to look inside some of Manoa Valley's historic homes during a walking tour May 18.The self-guided tour will feature more than 60 homes, 28 of which are listed on the state Register of Historic Properties.
The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. at Kamanele Park, near the entrance to Mid-Pacific Institute at Kaala Street and University Avenue. The walk ends with refreshments and entertainment from 10 a.m. to noon at College Hill, home of University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle.
Cost of the tour is $20 until May 9 and $25 thereafter. Children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free.
The event will benefit Malama O Manoa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing historic Manoa.
Registration forms for the tour are available at Starbuck's Manoa or www.malamaomanoa.org/2003walktour, or by calling 988-7622, 947-7400 or 946-1559.
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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 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
[ THE COURTS ]
Prison escapees plead not guilty to charges
Convicted bank robber Albert Batalona pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges stemming from his escape from Halawa Correctional Facility earlier this month.Co-defendants Warren Elicker, 25, and David Scribner, 20, also pleaded not guilty. The trio are set for trial on June 23.
The three led state and county law enforcement officers on a six-day manhunt that was focused in Hauula Valley and ended April 10 when all three were captured within minutes of each other at separate Windward Oahu locations.
Last week, an Oahu grand jury indicted all three on charges of second-degree escape. Batalona, 27, was also charged with two counts of second-degree robbery for hijacking a man's car near Aloha Stadium a short time after they fled the high-security facility, and taking another man's cellular phone. Scribner, who was with Batalona at the time, also was charged with one count of second-degree robbery.
Woman allegedly lied to receive welfare aid
A Kalihi mother pleaded not guilty yesterday to fraudulently obtaining more than $96,000 in public assistance over seven years.Salote Mu, 30, allegedly concealed from the state that the father of her biological children was living with her, said Deputy Attorney General Rick Damerville.
She allegedly received benefits between October 1995 and last August.
Pastor and wife plead not guilty to fraud
The pastor of the Trinity Congregational Christian Samoan Church in Kalihi and his wife pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges they fraudulently obtained more than $15,000 in public assistance.Petaia Timoteo, 39, and Amilagi Timoteo, 45, of Kalihi, were each indicted April 10 with second-degree theft that allegedly occurred between November 2000 and April 2002.
Petaia Timoteo is accused of having other church members lie for him in writing about his living situation and income to car dealers and to the state Department of Human Services, said Deputy Attorney General Rick Damerville.
Federal jury finds pair guilty of dealing drugs
A federal jury has found two men guilty of operating a major crystal methamphetamine distribution ring in Hawaii, the U.S. attorney's office said yesterday.Herman Lemusu, 38, and his cousin Alofaga Lemusu, 38, were found guilty last week of several felonies, including distributing and manufacturing methamphetamine.
Herman Lemusu was the apparent leader of the group that imported hundreds of pounds of meth into Hawaii, authorities said.
His operation involved importing raw methamphetamine to Hawaii from Los Angeles using several couriers. His cousin would then convert the meth into "ice" in a laboratory, said U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr.
The ice was then distributed through a system of subdealers, Kubo said.
During the four-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing that more than $1 million in drug proceeds was sent from Hawaii to California through a money-laundering scheme that involved businesses and activities in California and American Samoa.
Both men will be sentenced on Sept. 29.
DRIVE-BY GEYSER
PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLA YOUNG
Honolulu firefighters said a hit-and-run accident broke open a hydrant fronting the Kailua Post Office along Hahani Street yesterday just before 4:45 p.m.
CENTRAL OAHU
Woman backs over, kills baby in driveway
Honolulu police said an 11-month-old boy was killed yesterday morning after a family acquaintance accidentally reversed into the infant with her van.Police said that at 8:30 a.m. the 28-year-old driver was backing up her van in a driveway at Kiaha Loop in Mililani when she struck the infant. Police said the infant had crawled out onto the driveway after leaving the house unbeknownst to the family.
According to emergency medical officials, a bystander attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the boy before the ambulance arrived. The baby was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police said neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the case, and have classified it as a non-traffic-related incident.
HONOLULU
3 men rob gem store in Ala Moana region
Police are looking for three men who allegedly accosted a security guard at gunpoint Sunday night and stole jewelry worth more than $300 from an Ala Moana jewelry store.The robbers approached the guard as he was leaving 1507 Kapiolani Blvd. about 10:10 p.m., police said. They fled after taking merchandise from Island Creation Jewelers, police said.
One robber is described as in his 20s, 6 feet 2, 240 pounds, with a blond crewcut. He was wearing a white, long-sleeve sweatshirt and gloves.
Another robber is described as in his 20s, 5 feet 8 and 240 pounds, wearing a gray, long-sleeve sweatshirt. The third man is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Son allegedly punches father in car argument
A father-and-son argument over the use of the father's car resulted in the arrest of the son and a fractured left rib for the father.The son, 31, was arrested for allegedly punching his father at their McCully home early Sunday, police said.
The father, 64, was treated at St. Francis Medical Center and released.
Suicide investigation slows H-1 commute
The morning commute on the H-1 freeway was slowed today while police closed a section near downtown to investigate an apparent suicide.Police said they closed three Ewa-bound lanes near the Pali Highway overpass about 5:15 a.m. after a woman apparently jumped from the overpass and landed on a vehicle. The vehicle left the scene and may have run over her, police said.
Intermittent rain added to the traffic slowdown as commuters got off the freeway to seek alternative routes to work. Police finished gathering evidence and reopened the lanes at 7:05 a.m.
Although motorists were affected by the closure, they were not delayed for hours as they had been last Thursday when police closed a nearby section of the freeway for another suicide investigation.
That day, traffic was snarled on the freeway and other major roadways leading from Leeward Oahu after a 44-year-old woman jumped onto the Koko Head-bound lanes from the Queen Emma Street overpass about 5:25 a.m.
