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Star-Bulletin staff and wire
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
>> Chanelle Marie Kawamoto of Kaneohe has been made a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She is a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.>> Leticia Pagan, formerly of Maui, is this year's Youth Ambassador to Vietnam. She will live with a family and attend high school there. She is now a resident of Union City, Calif.
>> Papa John's Pizza Restaurants has honored 15 high school seniors as 2004 Papa John's Scholars and awarded them $1,000 scholarships. They are Brandon Eum of Leilehua High School; Sheena Fuertes of Radford High School; Nicole Galase of Kalani High School; Sarah Kodama of Castle High School; Ronica Lu of Moanalua High School; Heidi Maeda of Roosevelt High School; Melvin Rodenhurst of Kalaheo High School; Blanca Rodriguez of Mililani High School; Kathryn Sagayadoro of Campbell High School; Megan Soriano of Waipahu High School; Jordan Tangonan of Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu Campus; Jennylyn Tapat of Pearl City High School; Ken Tatafu of Kaimuki High School; Diana Wan of McKinley High School; and Leona Wright of Nanakuli High School.
>> Nicole Yamaguchi of Iolani School attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Washington, D.C., this summer. She was among 350 high school students who demonstrated academic excellence, leadership potential and an interest in a medical career.
Akaka recovering at home from surgery
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is back home after undergoing a skin graft last week.Akaka was released yesterday morning from the Queen's Medical Center, said spokesman Paul Cardus. Akaka had the skin graft last Thursday and was expected to spend only a day or two in the hospital. But Cardus said doctors wanted to keep the leg immobilized.
The skin graft was performed to help heal an ankle injury Akaka suffered when he was struck by a golf ball. Physicians said the procedure went well.
Akaka, 79, was struck on his left ankle by a golf ball during a charity golf tournament in Northern Virginia in mid-July.
GOP platform includes Hawaiian rights plank
The platform adopted by the Republican National Convention this week includes references of support for native Hawaiians, but there is no reference to them in the platform adopted at the Democratic National Convention.The GOP platform includes a plank supporting American Indians and native Hawaiians and calling for preservation of their culture and language, Gov. Linda Lingle, who is attending the convention in New York City, said yesterday.
The governor said she is proud that Hawaii Republicans were able to get the reference to native Hawaiians included in the GOP platform.
Hawaii Democratic Party Chairman Brickwood Galuteria, who led the Hawaii delegation to the Democrats' convention in Boston, said "I don't have an answer" why Hawaiians were not included in the national Democrats' platform.
"I wish I did."
Tai chi class is beneficial for arthritis
The ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi is sweeping the nation as a popular therapy for arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation, which is sponsoring special classes here.Susan Milton, program director, said the sweeping, slow movements help to build strength and stamina and maintain flexibility without jarring the joints. Often called "meditation in motion," tai chi focuses on breathing and flowing gestures.
In a 1996 study in Atlanta, seniors who practiced tai chi for 15 weeks reduced their risk of multiple falls by 47.5 percent and had lower blood pressure, she reported.
The foundation has worked with a tai chi master to develop a program of modified exercises for residents with arthritis.
A series of classes on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. began yesterday at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza Courtyard.
The classes feature Zeng Chen Dong, third-generation tai chi master, Janet Jin and Edgar Ng. Participants can register at the class. A $16 donation is requested for a month of classes. For more information, call the Arthritis Foundation, 596-2900.
Also offering tai chi classes for people with arthritis are:
>> The Institute for Zen Studies, 720 Iwilei Road, with classes at 2:30 and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays with instructor Jerry Punzel. Call Sonya Miyashiro at 566-7231 for information on fees and registration.>> Kaiser Permanente Honolulu, Moanalua and Koolau clinics with instructor John Carpenter. Call 597-2270 for information on class times, cost and registration.
Laser tech to control glaucoma is available
A new laser technology that often reduces or eliminates the need for eye medicines to control glaucoma has been acquired by the Hawaiian Eye Center, said Dr. Christopher Tortora, medical director.The technology is incorporated in a procedure known as Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, which makes control of glaucoma safer and easier than before, he said.
Glaucoma is a condition in which increased pressure in the eyes destroys vision. Tortora, a glaucoma specialist, said the new laser treatment can lower eye pressure without damaging the eye, which occurred previously with similar procedures. Thus, treatments can be repeated safely to help maintain control of the condition, he said.
North Shore seniors group plans health fair
The Friends of North Shore Seniors will hold its Health and Wellness fair at Waimea Valley Audubon Center on Sept. 12.The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and features several free health screenings, including blood pressure, diabetes and hearing tests.
A pharmacist, nutritionist, dental hygienist and other medical professionals will be on hand to provide health tips.
The fair is free to the public.
For more information, please contact organizer Melvin Amantiad at 638-9199, or e-mail him at northshoreseniors@yahoo.com.
By Star-Bulletin staff
WINDWARD OAHU
Suspect is nabbed in attempt to kill cop Honolulu police arrested a 23-year-old man who allegedly tried to run over a police officer in a stolen car last month near Turtle Bay Resort.
Police arrested the suspect in Kaneohe yesterday for suspicion of first-degree attempted murder.
The incident for which he was arrested took place on Aug. 17 and involved a suspect in a stolen vehicle speeding up and driving toward a police officer who was approaching the car on foot.
The officer in the case fired four shots at the vehicle, though the suspect still got away. Police arrested another suspect who was in the car later that day but charged him with auto theft.
Police arrested yesterday's attempted-murder suspect at 6:40 p.m. near 45-596 Kamehameha Highway along with a 23-year-old woman. Police said the woman accompanying the suspect was not involved in last month's case, but was arrested for traffic warrants.
HONOLULU
Suspect sought after officer hurt in attack Police are looking for a man who slightly injured a police officer with an ice pick early yesterday in Kalihi.
The officer approached the man, who was "hanging out" behind a closed business establishment in a mall at 1311 N. King St. about 3:24 a.m., police said.
The man thrust at the officer with the ice pick, police said. The officer ducked but was nicked in the ear and fell to the ground.
The suspect is described as being between 30 and 35 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 175 pounds, with short black hair and a mustache, wearing a light-colored T-shirt and dark pants.
CENTRAL OAHU
Swarm of bees attack 3 at Whitmore Village A Wahiawa man was stung by between 15 and 20 bees yesterday.
Firefighters and an ambulance crew were sent to 348 Circle Mauka Place in Whitmore Village about 9:55 a.m.
When crews arrived on the scene, they found the victim swatting bees. A woman and a toddler were also stung only once or twice each, said fire Capt. Emmit Kane.
Kane said there was a large hive of bees in a Norfolk pine tree in the back yard.
The three victims were treated at the scene and did not have any complications as a result of the bee stings.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers