Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Big Island bill upholds limitations on smoking
KAILUA-KONA >> A ban on smoking in bars was retained in a bill regulating public smoking, which was passed on first reading by the Hawaii County Council yesterday.The ban in bars had been approved in committee, but Council Chairman Jimmy Arakaki introduced a new version to remove the bar ban. Arakaki's bill was defeated 5-4.
The Council then approved the bill approved by the committee 7-2. Arakaki and Aaron Chung, both from Hilo, cast the sole votes against it.
Other changes proposed by Arakaki were also defeated. Arakaki's proposal would have permitted smoking in parts of private homes with child care, adult care and health care facilities, provided children and clients were not allowed into those parts.
But the bill was passed with a total ban, including nighttime hours when no children may be present. Even Chung, who voted against the bill, said children should be protected from having to crawl on a smoky rug. Anti-smoking advocate Clifford Chang said care home owners can still smoke outside their house.
A second vote is needed before the measure goes to Mayor Harry Kim for consideration.
Autopsies on victims of crash inconclusive
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK >> Preliminary results of autopsies on the victims of Sunday's helicopter accident in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have failed to reveal a cause of death, park ranger Jim Gale said yesterday.Three of the four victims were identified through dental records, he said. They are pilot Russell Holliday, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; passenger Jody Laughman, 37, of East Berlin, Pa.; and her daughter, Nicole Laughman, 13.
Pennsylvania sources indicated the family lived at Lake Meade, Pa. That community is considered to be part of East Berlin, six miles away.
An autopsy failed to make a positive identification of the fourth victim, believed to be Jody Laughman's husband, James Thomas.
Monday blood donors get pint of ice cream
Anyone who donates blood on Mondays through Aug. 18 will be entitled to a pint of Baskin-Robbins Hawaii ice cream.The Blood Bank of Hawaii has teamed up with the ice cream company for its "Give a Pint, Get a Pint" summer program.
Summer months and Mondays are traditionally times of low donor turnout, said Dr. Robyn Yim, Blood Bank of Hawaii president and medical director.
"Keeping the blood supply at a safe level during the summer is quite challenging because schools are out and many people go on vacation," Yim said. "We hope this promotion will heighten awareness of the need for blood among nondonors and inspire people to give the gift of life to fulfill the increasing demand for blood."
Donors visiting the Blood Bank's Dillingham Donor Center, Downtown Donor Center at 126 Queen St. or any blood drive location will receive a coupon redeemable for one pint of ice cream at any participating Baskin-Robbins Hawaii locations until December.
Donors must be at least 18 years old, in good health, weigh 110 pounds or more and provide a valid photo ID.
To make an appointment to give blood or get more information, call 845-9966 (800-372-9966 from the neighbor islands) or see www.bbh.org.
Cancer society to hold 20 life relay events
The American Cancer Society will hold about 20 Relay for Life events statewide this year, with the first one for the Waimanalo community from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday.The society is working with the Waimanalo Canoe Club, which has a regatta on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Waimanalo Beach Park. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend.
Relay for Life is a 12-hour overnight fund-raising event for the cancer society that encourages participants to take turns walking around an illuminated track in honor or memory of cancer patients.
Activities are planned throughout the relays.
The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteer artists, performers, activity leaders and others with special abilities for late night Relay for Life activities July 19 at Ala Moana Beach Park.
Contact Heidi at 845-9219 (heidi@hcc.hawaii.edu) or Doug at 845-9409 (doug@hcc.hawaii.edu).
AUW establishes 211 hepatitis info number
People infected with hepatitis C or B, or are concerned about the disease, may call 211 for information.Aloha United Way established the free hot line with the newly organized Hepatitis Prevention, Education, Treatment and Support Network of Hawaii.
Callers are connected to an Aloha United Way information and referral specialist to learn about local resources, national hot-line numbers and treatment information.
The service is available to all islands 24 hours a day, and the calls are confidential.
Kumu coordinating wellness workshop
Hawaiian cultural expert John Keola Lake will coordinate a health and wellness workshop Saturday as part of Chaminade University Hawaiian Summer Studies Program.The workshop will address different levels of Hawaiian health and wellness.
It will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $120 and includes lunch.
To register and for more information, call 440-4201.
Lake is kumu-in-residence instructor of Hawaiian language, religion and oral traditions at Chaminade.
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[Taking Notice]
Cancer center honors Kamehameha trio
Three Kamehameha Schools students have received Senior Research Awards from the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii in recognition of their research projects at the recent Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair.Jill Harunaga, a senior, received a Cancer Center award for the second year with her first-place project, "Damnacanthal and the cytoskeleton: Noni anthraquinone Normalizes Cancer cell Phenotype." She received $100 and a plaque.
Amanda M. Garcia, a junior winning second place, received $50 and a plaque for her project, "Kukaepua'a: Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Digitaria ciliaris, Phase 2: Mechanisms of Cellular Inhibition."
Kristen K. Ponce, a junior winning third place, received $25 and a plaque for her project, "A Novel Growth Promotion from Wiliwili."
Dr. Carl-Wilhelm Vogel, Cancer Research Center director, said: "Every year, we are impressed with the caliber of the research projects. We hope these outstanding students will continue their studies in scientific research."
The students' science teacher is Lawrence J. Mordan, a former Cancer Center scientist.
The research center has been presenting Senior Research Awards at the state science fair since 2000.
GRANTS
>> CTA Staffing has pledged $5,000 to Dress for Success Honolulu, a YWCA of Oahu program that provides career attire and emotional support to low-income women preparing for job interviews. CTA also provides interview preparation and professional training for women.
"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.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffLEEWARD OAHU
Suspect in 2 bank robberies is arrested
Police arrested a man last night who is suspected in two bank robberies.Blaine Teves, 23, was arrested in Aiea shortly after 6 p.m. He was wanted on a contempt warrant charging him with not showing up for sentencing for sexually assaulting a juvenile female.
Police want to question Teves about the robbery of American Savings Bank in Kaimuki last Friday and the City Bank in Makiki on June 4.
HONOLULU
Victim's note confirms Pauoa murder-suicide
Honolulu police said a suicide note confirms that a Pauoa man killed his wife and then hanged himself earlier this week.Relatives of Kazuo Hironaga, 89, verified that the note was in his handwriting.
Hironaga was found hanging from a rope tied to a tree, while his wife, Dorothy Hironaga, 84, was found decapitated in the back yard of the couple's Booth Road home Monday.
Police said according to the note, Hironaga was overcome with the burden of caring for his wife, who was in late stages of dementia.
Police said the note does not explain why the woman was decapitated.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
