Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Nader's isle visit starts with a speech at UH
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader will speak tomorrow at the University of Hawaii as part of a weekend of stops on Oahu and Maui.The speech will be at the UH Art Auditorium from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m., following a 2 p.m. news conference. Later in the evening, Nader will hold a private fund-raiser.
On Sunday, Nader will speak at the Maui Tech Center's Office Edge from 11 a.m. to noon. He will be at Hapa's Brew Haus in Kihei from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. for a rally and fund-raiser.
Nader has not yet qualified for Hawaii's presidential ballot.
For more information, contact Hawaii Nader spokesman Jesse Ponce de Leon at 941-7679, or go to Nader's Web site at votenader.org.
St. Andrew's Priory gets a new leader
Marilyn Matsunaga, a health planning executive, took over yesterday as the new head of St. Andrew's Priory School."We did a comprehensive, national search," said Dew-Anne Langcaon, who chaired the search committee for the priory's board of trustees. "Marilyn impressed us with her creative strategic thinking, great intelligence, passion for working with a variety of people, strong organizational skills and remarkable energy."
Matsunaga directed the Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency under former Gov. Ben Cayetano and then headed her own health care development and consulting firm.
"The environment for independent private schools has become increasingly competitive and complex, requiring a person of Matsunaga's talent and broad experience for future success," said Russell Lau, chairman of the St. Andrew's board.
Matsunaga is a graduate of Hilo High School and the University of Denver, where she earned a master's degree in business administration.
"I am thrilled to be joining this excellent team of faculty and staff and look forward to getting to know each of our talented students," Matsunaga said.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWAIKIKI
Man, 26, is arrested in alleged sex assault
Police arrested a 26-year-old Hawaii Kai man Wednesday who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman last month.Police said the woman, 23, met the suspect in a Waikiki nightclub on June 10 and agreed to give him a ride to his car. He directed her to a secluded parking lot where he sexually assaulted her between 2 and 2:40 a.m., police said.
The victim reported the crime that day. Police arrested the suspect for first-degree sexual assault.
Woman escapes fire but pet cat is killed
A 61-year-old Waikiki woman escaped her burning Kuhio Avenue apartment yesterday afternoon but her cat died in the blaze.Fire Department officials said the woman was in her 16th-floor unit at the Four Paddle Condominium when the fire started at 2:36 p.m. The woman got out of the apartment but collapsed in the hallway.
Neighbors who heard her calls for help got the woman out safely. She was treated downstairs by paramedics but refused to be transported to the hospital. Damage to the unit was estimated at about $90,000. Firefighters said a pet cat in the unit was killed.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Motorcyclist dies in crash with sedan
A 36-year-old Puna man died in Pahoa when a car crashed into the motorcycle he was driving yesterday morning.The victim was identified as Joseph M. Bertilacci, of a Hawaiian Paradise Park address.
Big Island police said the victim was riding his 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle east on Route 130 when a 1994 Mercury four-door station wagon driven north on Aulii Street by a 41-year-old Orchidland resident made a left turn onto Route 130 and into Bertilacci's path.
The victim was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:24 a.m. Bertilacci was not wearing a helmet, and speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the accident, police said.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call officer Wendall Carter or acting Sgt. Robert Hatton, of the Traffic Enforcement Unit, at 961-2332. Thursday's death was the 25th traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared with 15 at the same time last year.
LEEWARD OAHU
Firefighters to return to Kunia brush fire
County and federal firefighters were expected to return today to put out hot spots at a Kunia brush fire that burned 220 acres since Wednesday.Fire officials considered the blaze contained and sent firefighters home late yesterday afternoon but said they would be back today to make sure it does not flare up.
The fire started at about 10 a.m. Wednesday near the base of the Waianae Mountain range, roughly half a mile from Kunia Road. More than 30 county and federal firefighters brought the flames under control. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
