Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Presidential election draws 126 isle Filipinos
By Tuesday's deadline, 126 Filipinos in Hawaii had registered to vote in the Philippine presidential election, according to Consul General Rolando Gregorio.Taking advantage of a new law allowing them to vote by absentee ballot, the number is less than 1 percent of the 10,0000 to 50,000 Filipinos living in Hawaii believed to be eligible.
The disappointing turnout is largely being attributed to a provision in the absentee voting law that would require registrants to return to the Philippines within three years of the May 10 election, Gregorio had previously said.
Those who registered for dual citizenship under a recently approved law would be exempt from this requirement, but that did not boost the absentee voting numbers.
Registration for absentee voting started Aug. 1 and ended at 5 p.m. yesterday.
Kailua campaign seeks end to illegal dumping
Tomorrow on Kailua's Kapaa Quarry Road, the Windward Ahupuaa Alliance will kick off its "Bust-A-Dumper" campaign with sign-waving and sign-ups for a citizen anti-dumping patrol.The group will even launch a Web site -- www.bustadumper.com -- where it will post photos of dumping violations statewide.
The alliance hopes to get out the message that dumping trash along Kapaa Quarry Road will no longer be tolerated, said Shannon Wood, interim alliance president. Members hope the sentiment will spread across the state.
The alliance's Kapaa Quarry Road Working Group has held four cleanups on the former dump road this year, removing 133,000 pounds of junk, Wood said.
The group will hire off-duty police officers to patrol the road at night and train citizens to patrol it during the day, taking down license plate numbers of anyone pitching junk.
Under the law, a conviction on criminal littering, a misdemeanor, could bring a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail or community service. But prosecutors and courts have not made illegal dumpers a priority, Wood said.
For more information, call 223-5535, or e-mail waa@hoku.com.
Portuguese men-of-war sting on South Shore
Honolulu Ocean Safety officials said kona winds blew in some Portuguese men-of-war to Waikiki and Ala Moana beaches yesterday.Lifeguards said at least eight people were treated for stings by 1 p.m. They warned that as long as kona winds are blowing, there may be more men-of-war at South Shore beaches.
UH medical school wins $2.7 million grant
The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine has received a five-year, $2.7 million grant for a program to develop researchers to help eliminate health disparities in Hawaii.The National Center for Research Resources awarded the grant to Dr. Rosanne C. Harrigan, principal investigator, and Dr. David Easa, co-principal investigator.
Course work will be implemented leading to a master's degree in biomedical science focused on clinical research for selected medical students, residents and fellows, post-doctoral fellows, doctoral candidates and junior faculty.
Most participants will be drawn from the medical school, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, School of Social Work, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Psychology and the Pacific Biomedical Research Center.
Interested applicants should contact Harrigan at 956-2904. Participants in the first class must be admitted by Oct. 15; the program will begin in January.
Queen's panel to focus on Parkinson's disease
Drs. Leo Maher and Leon Liem and a Parkinson's Disease survivor will discuss "Parkinson's Disease and Essential Tremors" at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Queen's Medical Center's Conference Center.The panel will discuss current and new treatments for Parkinson's disease and for essential tremors, which involve involuntary trembling of parts of the body not resulting from Parkinson's, deep brain stimulation and what life was like for a patient before, during and after Parkinson's.
Call the Queen's Referral Line at 537-7117 to register or get more information. Reservations are needed because of limited space. Validated parking is available in the Miller Street parking garage.
Symposium to address breast cancer issues
The role of genetics, hormone replacement therapy and controversies in breast reconstruction will be among issues discussed at a breast cancer symposium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel.Local and mainland specialists will speak at the event, which will kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, focusing on prevention and treatment of the disease.
More than 800 Hawaii women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually and it's one of the leading causes of death in women, according to Straub Clinic & Hospital.
Straub is sponsoring the event with Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi with support from the Strong Foundation.
To register for the symposium, visit to www.straub-foundation.org or call 524-6755.
Nominations sought for volunteer award
Nominations are sought for Straub Foundation's annual award to a Hawaii health professional with an outstanding record of voluntary professional activities.The Guy Champion and John C. Milnor Professional Activities Award was established by John Milnor in honor of his father, Guy Champion Milnor. After John Milnor's death, the award was renamed to honor both physicians. Each had a distinguished medical career at Straub Clinic & Hospital.
Oct. 15 is the deadline to submit applications for the award, which covers for the period between July 2002 and June 2003.
To request an application form or to nominate a candidate for the award, contact Straub Foundation, 1100 Ward Ave., Suite 1045, Honolulu, 96814, or phone 524-6755.
Hispanic Center offers free health screenings
Centro Hispano De Hawaii (Hispanic Center of Hawaii) will hold its fifth annual family health fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Windward Mall in Kaneohe.The fair will feature free health screenings, live entertainment, sampling of healthy foods and activities for kids.
For more information call 941-5216 or 285-0079.
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[Taking Notice]
ACADEMIC AWARDS
>> Hawaiian Cement has awarded scholarships to three college-bound children of its employees. The recipients are Chad Itokazu of Pearl City High School, $8,000; Justin Muraki of Mid-Pacific Institute, $8,000; and Cherlyn Koizumi of Pearl City High, $4,000.>> Twenty outstanding high school graduates have received $1,000 Fun Factory/University of Hawaii scholarships. They are Alisa Amian, Melanie Li, Joyce Nip of Moanalua High School; Christian Cook, Royce Hanada, Kapaa High School; Dawn Egusa, Richard Pigao, Sheryl Tong, Pearl City High School; Michael Karlson, Kealakehe High School; Lai Kin Kwong, Kaiser High School; K'ley Legaspi, Kauai High School; Michelle Macedonio, Aiea High School; Christine Mattos, Katrina Thompson, Waimea High School; Suzannah Mills, Baldwin High School; Brandon Miyashiro, Castle High School; Jennifer Przgodziniski, Hawaii Preparatory Academy; Michelle Sagario, King Kelaulike High School; Noe Sekimoto, Kalani High School; and Tristan Nino Sotto, Waipahu High School.
The second-year scholars attending the University of Hawaii who also received $1,000 awards include Darcy Gibo, formerly of Kalani High; Tracy Nagao of Lahainaluna High School; Janelle Pang of Maryknoll School; Mia Takahashi of Hilo High School; and Andrea Wong of Waiakea High School.
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
Big Isle police identify body of missing man
Big Island police have identified the body of a 62-year-old Hilo man who had been reported missing for the past 3 1/2 weeks.Police said they identified the victim through dental records as Richard Suffern, of Hilo. Suffern had been missing since Sept. 8.
Suffern was found Sept. 24 in an area with heavy underbrush between the Mauna Loa Shores and Hale Moana condominiums in the Keaukaha area.
The results of an autopsy conducted Friday could not immediately determine the cause of death. Police said foul play does not appear to be involved.
Knife-wielding suspect scheduled for hearing
WAILUKU >> A man who wielded a knife in an alleged robbery attempt at the pharmacy in Kmart in Kahului is scheduled for a preliminary hearing tomorrow in Maui District Court.Mitchell Vladimir, 31, appeared in court yesterday to face the charge of first-degree robbery.
He was arrested by Maui detectives at his Upcountry residence Monday night, less than nine hours after the 10:30 a.m. robbery, police Lt. Glenn Cuomo said.
Vladimir's bail was set at $50,000.
Cuomo said when a man was unsuccessful in entering the rear door of the pharmacy Monday morning, he went to the front counter, and pulled out a knife in an attempt to get drugs. The man fled without the drugs.
Pepper spray used in robbery attempt
LAHAINA >> A man who allegedly used pepper spray to try to get away with stolen items from Ace Hardware in Lahaina was held by store employees until police arrived.Christopher Bales, 38, is charged with second-degree robbery. Bales tried to leave the store with unpaid items Tuesday evening, prosecutors allege.
Bales used the spray when employees tried to stop him from taking the items from the store, according to prosecutors.
Bales, who has no local address, is being held on $20,000 bail, pending his preliminary hearing tomorrow in Maui District Court on a second-degree robbery charge.
Man charged in theft that left officer injured
WAILUKU >> A 21-year-old man has been charged in a stolen-vehicle incident that left a Maui police officer with minor injuries, including scrapes on a knee.Jude Goodwin was being held on $30,000 bail after being arrested by Maui police yesterday at his home.
He faces charges including assault on a police officer and theft of a pickup.
Police Lt. Glenn Cuomo said a police officer suffered minor injuries while checking a vehicle suspiciously parked about two miles west of Fong Store at about 1:30 a.m. Monday.
Cuomo said the pickup truck crashed through a gate and drove into a pasture.
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[ The Courts ]
Plea agreement ends whale harassment case
WAILUKU >> Pacific Whale Foundation attorney Jack Naiditch said a recent plea agreement with the state vindicates his client of any allegation of harming humpback whales.The Kihei-based, nonprofit foundation pleaded no contest Monday to five misdemeanor charges of riding on the sides of an inflatable vessel and was ordered to pay $5,000 in fines and fees.
In return, the prosecution agreed to dismiss 53 misdemeanor charges alleging the foundation pursued humpback whales in violation of state law in early 1998, Naiditch said.
Naiditch said the state approached the foundation to settle the charges and the foundation agreed to the deal because it was the least expensive and least stressful way to get through the litigation.
Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza had dismissed 33 other misdemeanor charges after ruling the alleged offenses occurred outside the state's three-mile ocean limit.
Naiditch said although the foundation's state permit lapsed for about a month in 1998, the foundation had a federal research permit that allowed for the activity and took precedence over state ocean regulations.
U.S. grand jury indicts 3 men on drug charges
Three men were indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for allegedly conspiring to distribute and possess about a pound of methamphetamine and cocaine from March to July 2002.The indictment alleges that Christian Sanchez packaged and mailed methamphetamine and cocaine to Hawaii.
Also, the indictment said, Sanchez and Richard Kairau acted as couriers bringing cash from drug sales to two men in Los Angeles from two other men in Honolulu.
Sanchez and Chad Nakasone allowed drug proceeds to be deposited in their bank accounts to hide the source of funds, the indictment said.
According to the indictment, a total of $36,580 in drug proceeds were either delivered or wired by the men.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
