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Isle moms score high on breast-feeding

Hawaii is the only state where women of all racial populations surpass a target of having 75 percent of mothers breast-feed their newborns, according to the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It found 91 percent of Caucasian mothers, 89.6 percent of Asian-Pacific moms and 79.8 percent of black mothers in Hawaii start breast-feeding.

State Deputy Health Director Linda Rosen said the numbers are impressive, but they only represent mothers who initiated breast-feeding.

"Recent studies have shown that the number of moms that have continued to breast-feed their babies drops to an average of 53.4 percent after three months," Rosen said.

"We want to focus efforts to get moms to continue breast-feeding, exclusively, for six months," she said. "Breast milk really is the perfect food for newborns, since it actually changes to adapt to the changing needs of the infant."

World Breast-feeding Week started yesterday and runs through Saturday. This year's theme is Exclusive Breast-feeding: The Gold Standard -- Safe, Sound and Sustainable.

City bus route adds stops in Waimanalo

A Windward Oahu city bus route will add additional stops to service the Waimanalo Kupuna Housing Facility, the city has announced.

The route change will go into effect Aug. 23.

Route 77, which services Kaneohe and Waimanalo, will now serve Ilauhole, Lupe, Kauholokahiki and Nakini streets. The bus will also drive along a portion of Kalanianaole Highway in Waimanalo.

Waiver issued for late tax payment fee

The state Department of Taxation says it will waive a late-payment fee for residents whose bills listed incorrect information on penalty charges.

The waiver applies to bills dated June 9 through 21, and only if the recipient paid the amount due by the payment deadline printed on the bill, the department said.

"The Department of Taxation apologizes to all those who relied on the billing notice," said State Tax Director Kurt Kawafuchi. "We are implementing changes to make sure that this type of incident does not recur."

The waiver will be applied automatically. For more information, contact the department at 587-3267.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Bus driver dies after crash on McCully Street

A 53-year-old man died Saturday following a two-car collision in McCully.

Police said the man was mauka-bound on McCully Street near Algaroba Street in a white passenger bus at about 11:05 p.m. when he rear-ended a gray 2002 Nissan Sentra stopped at a stoplight.

The impact pushed the Sentra into the intersection. The 38-year-old man driving the vehicle managed to veer to the right after crossing the intersection, but the bus continued forward, striking a utility pole and a tile wall.

The driver and his 28-year-old passenger were not injured. The bus driver was found unconscious, and paramedics tried to revive him using cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where he later died.

Police said he may have suffered from a medical condition.

WAIKIKI

All Star Hawaii bar robbed after closing

Police are looking for a man in his 20s who allegedly robbed the All Star Hawaii bar and restaurant in Waikiki yesterday.

Police said the suspect entered the bar, at 2080 Kalakaua Ave., at about 1:45 a.m., when it was already closed. He approached the manager and took cash and traveler's checks before he fled, police said.

The manager told police that the suspect had a gun. No one was injured.

The suspect is described as a man in his early 20s, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 180 pounds. He was wearing a black cap and dark clothing.

CENTRAL OAHU

Pearl City man faces charges in beating

Police filed charges against a 26-year-old Pearl City man after he allegedly attacked his girlfriend and threatened to kill her Saturday.

Police said Fiamauea Magalei got into an argument with his girlfriend, 41, at about 12:25 a.m. while they were in the carport of his home at Puu Ulaula Street.

Police said Magalei slammed her against the wall and dragged her into the house. He then grabbed a knife and pulled her into the bathroom, choked her and threatened to kill her, police said.

The victim was able to break free and went home, where she called police.

Police charged Magalei with first-degree terroristic threatening and auto theft Saturday. His bail was set at $15,000.

WINDWARD OAHU

Hauula man arrested in alleged sex assault

Police arrested a 56-year-old Hauula man Saturday after he allegedly sexually assaulted an 8-year-old Kahaluu girl.

Police said the suspect and the victim's father got into an argument about 9 p.m. Saturday at Heeia Kea Pier in Kaneohe. Police said the father assaulted the suspect after he learned that the suspect had touched his daughter inappropriately.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault and second-degree assault.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Sex offender missing from Big Isle prison

Police are looking for a 29-year-old man who escaped yesterday from the Kulani Correctional Facility.

Joshua Reed was discovered missing from the facility at 6 a.m. He was last seen during a head count at 3:55 p.m. Saturday.

Reed is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 165 pounds, with green eyes and dirty-blond hair. He was serving time for a sex offense.

Anyone with information is asked to call officer Dean Uyetake at 961-2213, the police non-emergency number at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Pickup falls 15 feet into Big Island gulch

Two people were injured yesterday when their pickup overturned, went over a guardrail on Highway 19 and fell 15 feet into Laupahoehoe Gulch on the Big Island.

The accident occurred at about 9:58 a.m. The vehicle's male driver was airlifted to the Hilo Medical Center, while his female passenger was transported there by ambulance.

The extent of their injuries was not released. About 25 Hawaii County firefighters worked to get the two out of the gulch. During the rescue, one lane of the highway was closed for about 30 minutes.

It is unclear whether speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.

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Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers