Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Power failure leaves thousands in the dark
A power outage affected 4,300 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers last night for nearly an hour in the area bounded by Ward Avenue, Kapiolani Boulevard and King and McCully streets.The outage began at 7:49 p.m., and power was restored by 8:43 p.m.
A HECO spokesman said technicians were trying to determine the cause.
State gets $10 million for crisis network
More than $10.3 million in federal funds will go toward strengthening the state's health-care preparedness in the event of a terrorist attack or public health emergency, according to U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye."The funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will allow our public health system and its partners to be ready to respond in the best possible way if a biochemical attack or an infectious disease outbreak such as SARS should occur in Hawaii," said Inouye, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
The funds will go toward improving statewide communication among hospitals, health departments and the public if an emergency occurred. Funds will also be used for surveillance, epidemiology and lab programs to detect chemical agents.
Maui grad takes over busy Kihei post office
KIHEI, Maui >> A Maui High School graduate has been appointed to become the new postmaster for Kihei.Ricky Aguirre, a Kula resident, will take the oath of office next Thursday. Aguirre formerly served as supervisor of customer services at the Wailuku Post Office.
The Kihei Post Office handles more than 10,300 deliveries daily and has 40 employees.
Mothballs bring fine for Chinatown grocer
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrative law judge has ordered the Hing Mau grocery store in Chinatown to pay $7,920 for illegally selling and distributing unregistered mothballs.The mothballs -- Naphthalene No. 108 and Refined Naphthalene Ball -- were not registered with the EPA and did not have approved instruction labels. The mothballs were white or multicolored and packaged in clear cellophane bags.
"Children coming across these products in the home could accidentally poison themselves because these mothballs look so much like candy," said EPA spokesman Enrique Manzanilla. "Without such products going through the proper registration process, we cannot be sure what they contain and whether they are properly packaged and labeled."
The EPA issued an administrative complaint in September 2001, charging Hing Mau with violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
Last month, an administrative law judge in San Francisco issued the decision requiring Hing Mau to pay the fine.
The EPA's pesticide regulations require registration and approved labels on all pesticide products before they are sold.
Hula halau sponsors Grandparent's Day
A Grandparent's Day celebration called "Hug Your Tutu Today" will be held Sunday at Jarrett Intermediate School, 1903 Palolo Ave., 3-7 p.m.The event is sponsored by the Kealiikaapunihonua Keena Ao Hula halau.
Tickets are $6 in advance or $10 at the door. Call 734-0711 or 221-2053.
Boston doctor will hold talks on vegetarianism
Dr. Michael Greger, of Boston, specialist on vegetarian nutrition and globalization effects on diet, health and protection of animals, will give four free lectures on Oahu next month.They are scheduled as follows:
>> Today, 7 p.m., Castle Medical Center, "Trans Fats & Acrylimide: What You Don't Know May Hurt You." Call 263-5400 to register.Greger, a graduate of the Cornell University School of Agriculture and the Tufts University School of Medicine, was Farm Sanctuary's chief investigator on mad cow disease.>> Tomorrow, 5 p.m., University of Hawaii Campus Center building, Room 309, "Corporate Globalization: Trading Away Our Right to Protect Animals."
>> Monday, 5 p.m., Campus Center Building, "Growing Vegetarian: A How-To Guide for Making the Change."
>> Wednesday, 7 p.m., Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse, a regular Vegetarian Society of Hawaii meeting, "Optimum Nutrition: New Research on Omega 3s and B12."
He debated the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's director before the Food and Drug Administration and was invited as an expert witness to defend Oprah Winfrey in the high-profile "meat defamation trial."
A Texas beef lobbying group sued her for saying on the air that learning about contaminated meat made her think twice about eating flesh. The industry lost the suit.
Greger coordinates the mad cow disease Web site for the Organic Consumers Association.
For more information, call 944-VEGI (8344) or visit VSH.org.
Online calendar lists Hawaii health events
A statewide online Hawaii Health Events Calendar has been launched by HawaiiHealthGuide.com, a Web-based guide to personal, community and environmental health.Organizations and residents may see the calendar at www.HawaiiHealthGuide.com/events and add their own events.
"This is a great way to announce, promote and increase attendance of your upcoming events," said Katherine Fisher, co-founder of HawaiiHealthGuide.com.
Visitors and residents with computers have a chance to learn about health events, workshops, classes, sports competitions, community meetings and cultural events and to plan ahead, she said.
Michael Saiz, co-founder of HawaiiHealthGuide.com, said individuals and organizations submitting multiple events online may register to edit and manage them.
He said events also may be included in a Monthly Featured Events section of the home page.
Funding for the calendar was provided partly by grants from the Hawaii Tourism Authority through the Kauai and Oahu Offices of Economic Development and by matching grants from HawaiiHealthGuide.com, Wasabi Design Inc. and Guide.net.Inc.
The Event Calendar is searchable by key word, date, category and island.
For more information, call 638-0888 or e-mail events@hawaiihealthguide.com.
Kuakini auxiliary sets fund-raising bazaar
The Kuakini Medical Center Auxiliary is holding its annual fund-raising bazaar Oct. 3 and 4 in Kuakini's Hale Pulama Mau Auditorium.The bazaar begins at 9 a.m. both days; it ends at 2:30 p.m. Friday and noon on Saturday. Home-baked goods, sushi, books, plants and crafts will be available at bargain prices.
For more information, call Kuakini's Volunteer Services Department at 547-9184.
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[Taking Notice]
Kauai man recognized for nene photo
Kauai naturalist Carl Berg Jr. has received an honorable mention from the Environmental Protection Agency for his photograph of Hawaiian nene geese at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.Berg's photo is among the winning entries in the agency's 2003 wetlands photography contest.
It was displayed recently in Washington, D.C., and is posted on the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/photocontest2003.html.
"Dr. Berg's photograph shows that wetlands are an integral part of our environment and reminds all Americans of the many economic benefits that wetlands provide," said Tracy Mehan, EPA assistant administrator for water.
For more information about wetlands, go to www.epa.gov/wetlands
awards
>> Ray Jefferson, deputy director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, received the Harrison H. Schmitt Leadership Award from Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington, D.C., in July. He was one of two recipients to receive the award for alumni of the Fulbright Student Program for demonstrating extraordinary leadership in public service, learning and mutual understanding.The West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer is the first person of African-American descent to serve in a Cabinet-level appointed position in Hawaii.
>> Dominic "Nick" B. Griffin has been appointed state commissioner of financial institutions by Gov. Linda Lingle. He currently heads a firm providing risk management consulting to domestic and foreign financial service companies, central banks and regulatory agencies. Previously, he served with Bank of America and Bank of Hawaii.
>> The City and County of Honolulu has been given the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the nonprofit Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.
>> The University of Hawaii has given its 2003 Willard Wilson Award for Distinguished Service to the Community to Wilfred Arakaki, of Honolulu Community College. Arakaki is the coordinator of the Apprenticeship and Journey Worker Training Program. He is being recognized for personally soliciting large donations for a recent successful college fund-raising event.
"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 staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Fire destroys house and 3 vehicles in Kau
Fire burned a Kau home to the ground late Monday night.Two brothers who lived at the single-story wood house at Ohia and Tradewinds streets were not at home at the time.
The fire was reported about 11:45 p.m. Monday. When Hawaiian Ocean View Estates volunteers arrived at the home at 12:28 a.m., the house was engulfed in flames, an official said.
Damage to the building and contents, including a 1976 Camaro being rebuilt and two old motorcycles, was estimated at $24,000.
HONOLULU
Man allegedly bites police officer's leg
A 22-year-old Waianae man was arrested yesterday for allegedly biting a female police officer on the leg.Police said officers responded to a call about a fight near a Kalihi club about 3:55 a.m. When they arrived, they saw several people in the parking lot, including a man who was disorderly, police said.
When the officers tried to calm the man down, he allegedly rushed one of the officers and tried to tackle him. Other officers intervened, and the man bit an officer's leg. The suspect bit harder as officers tried to pull him off, police said.
Officers were able to get the suspect off the victim's leg and arrested him for investigation of first-degree assault on a law enforcement official.
LEEWARD OAHU
Domestic argument ends with gunshots
Police arrested a 40-year-old woman who allegedly shot at a man in Nanakuli on Tuesday.The woman and the 39-year-old male victim were arguing at about 9 p.m. at a residence on Hakimo Road when the suspect pulled out a handgun and fired at the victim twice, police said.
The victim then fled the area and called police.
Police said officers located the suspect at her home and arrested her for investigation of attempted murder.
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[The courts]
Grand jury indicts teen for attempted murder
An Oahu grand jury indicted 17-year-old Miti Maugaotega Jr. yesterday on a charge of second-degree attempted murder for allegedly shooting a 43-year-old man in his Punchbowl home June 26.Maugaotega, who turns 18 on Sept. 29, will be tried as an adult. He faces life without parole if convicted of second-degree attempted murder of Eric Kawamoto in his Puowaina Drive home. Bail was set at $500,000.
Kawamoto was shot in the chest, called for help, was assisted by neighbors and taken to a hospital. He has since recovered.
Maugaotega was also charged with one count each of first-degree burglary; first-degree robbery; illegal possession of a firearm; possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia; and two counts each of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
According to the indictment, Maugaotega allegedly used a semiautomatic weapon.
Maugaotega is also a suspect in a June 23 rape and robbery at a Kanunu Street high-rise, a June 16 home invasion robbery on Waikahalulu Lane and at least two other burglary/robbery cases.
Couple is indicted on ID theft charges
A federal grand jury has indicted Jennifer La Putt and Frederick Borja on charges they allegedly stole other people's identities to write checks and use credit cards to obtain more than $30,000 in money, goods and services in Hawaii and elsewhere.La Putt and Borja were indicted on 22 counts of conspiracy, counterfeiting, bank and identification fraud for the period from prior to Feb. 21 through July 3.
According to the indictment, the scheme allegedly involved obtaining names and personal information of people and business entities, opening bank and credit card accounts and in some cases printing counterfeit checks.
By creating fake identification cards with their own photographs and other people's names, they were able to cash the checks, the indictment said.
When arrested the two had counterfeit checks totaling $137,000, the indictment said.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
