Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

Army takes Campbell land for $15.9 million

The Army has agreed to pay landowner Campbell Estate $15.9 million for condemning 1,402 acres of private land at the Schofield Barracks south range.

The Army says it intends to use the land to establish additional military facilities, including three rifle ranges, to prepare for the transformation of the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Hawaii and for other military uses.

The Army filed formal notice of the condemnation yesterday in U.S. District Court.

"Campbell (Estate) agreed to the price, so the condemnation is simply for the purposes of clearing all claims and making the public aware this is happening," Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Yee said yesterday.

Once the courts issue a condemnation order, the Army will get clear title to the property, Yee said.

The property is adjacent to the 27,000 acres that the Army occupies at Schofield.

2 groups supporting state library to merge

The Friends of the Library and the Hawaii Library Foundation, two nonprofit groups that support Hawaii's public libraries, will merge into one organization by the end of the year.

"This will cut overlapping administration costs while boosting fund raising for the state libraries," said Ben Matsubara, president of the Hawaii Library Foundation. "It's a win-win situation for everybody."

The merger will increase the Friends of the Library's total assets to $5 million from $3.5 million.

Caroline Bond, executive director of the Friends of the Library, will be executive director of the new organization, which will be known as the Friends of the Library of Hawaii.

"We've been in talks for some time, concerned because our missions were, in many instances, duplicative," Matsubara said. "But it's business as usual. We're just enhancing both of our organizations by combining resources."

City Council approves new farm tax formula

The City Council unanimously approved a revised method of determining agricultural land taxes yesterday.

"We believe that these changes will improve the dedication and assessment of agricultural lands and promote agriculture in the City and County of Honolulu," Budget Director Ivan Lui-Kwan told the Council.

Lui-Kwan said the measure could lead to up to $4 million less in revenue for the city but that it achieved a "fair and workable" solution.

The measure continues to use land values as the foundation for determining taxes, and farmers will still get discounts for dedicating their lands to farming.

But to prevent rising land values from pushing up taxes, the bill also uses a formula that includes a per-acre valuation of crops to cap taxes at an affordable amount.

The measure was a hybrid of proposals developed by the Council-appointed Task Force on Agricultural Real Property Taxes and Mayor Jeremy Harris' administration.

Nov. 22 trial date set in Maui beating death

WAILUKU » A man charged in the killing of a 32-year-old Valley Isle resident during an assault more than four years ago is scheduled to stand trail on Nov. 22 in Maui Circuit Court.

Kamuela "Kami" Sanchez was being held on $150,000 bail this week after pleading not guilty to a manslaughter and third-degree assault in the death of Nathan Ilar.

Sanchez was arrested in South Maui after police responded to a report of a burglary at a general store in Sugar Beach at 12:15 a.m. Saturday.

Police later discovered there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Sanchez in connection with a grand jury indictment in February 2000.

Maui Circuit Judge Joel August set bail at $150,000.

Ilar, who was having a barbecue at the park, tried to break up a fight and suffered head injuries after being struck by a man. He died two days later.

[ BRIEFLY ]

Walk to raise funds for Lupus Foundation

The Hawaii Lupus Foundation is holding its first "Shine a Light on Lupus Awareness Walk" Oct. 9 at Ala Moana Beach Park as a fund-raiser and a promotion of its youth education programs.

The event is being held during National Lupus Awareness Month and to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Hawaii foundation. Live entertainment by local musician Jon Yamasato and the Epic Session band will be featured. Goodie bags, refreshments and festivities will be available to all participants.

Participants may choose to walk a 1.5-mile Magic Island course or a 2.75-mile Ala Moana Park course, both of which will begin and end at the McCoy Pavilion. The walk will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.

Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. the day of the walk, but participants who register and turn in a minimum $25 donation by tomorrow will receive a walk T-shirt and a ticket for a drawing of prizes, including a trip to Las Vegas. The more donations collected, the more tickets received.

To register, download the forms from www.lupuswalkhawaii.org or pick up packets from Locals Only at Ala Moana Center and the Hawaii Lupus Foundation office.

For more information, visit www.hawaiilupus.org or call 538-1522.

Some seniors can have electric wheelchairs

Miracle on Wheels, a Santa Barbara, Calif., company, is providing electric wheelchairs to senior citizens (65 and older) or the permanently disabled of any age who qualify under Medicare requirements. There is usually no out-of-pocket expense or deposit required.

The wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and cannot self-propel a manual wheelchair.

Call 800-749-8778 or visit www.durablemedical.com for more information.

Treatment for stroke highly rated at Queen's

The Queen's Medical Center has received accreditation from the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for providing the highest-quality standards of stroke treatment.

Only 29 programs in the United States have this certification, and Queen's Stroke Center is the first of its kind in Hawaii.

Reviewers from the joint commission said Queen's complied with state-of-the-art national standards and performance in the "chain of survival" treatment for stroke.

Stroke is the third leading causing of death in Hawaii and the leading cause of disability. The Stroke Center offers a stroke code team for rapid assessment of a patient's condition via physical exam, labs and CT scanning; a dedicated unit for treatment; and a "Get with the Guidelines Stroke" program (of the American Heart Institute) to prevent a second stroke.

UH gets $1.2 million for diabetes research

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $1.2 million five-year grant to the University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene for diabetes research.

The money will fund research by Dr. Jillian Inouye on a program to improve behaviors and the health of Asian/Pacific Islanders with Type 2 diabetes.

People with Type 2 diabetes must take medication daily; meals must be timed, types of food must be distinguished, exercise must be timed in relationship to meals, and blood testing is often required two to three times a day. Achieving and sustaining such behaviors require not only information and knowledge, but skills, motivation and reinforcement, and highly effective behavioral self-management.

Type 2 diabetes is a significant health concern for Asian/Pacific Islanders with few studies specifically looking at behavioral interventions for individuals and their significant others in this group. The grant will fund enrollment of 200 or more participants in Inouye's study.

[ TAKING NOTICE ]

» Frank Stewart and Nora Okja Keller have been selected as the 2002 and 2003 recipients, respectively, of the Hawaii Award for Literature, the highest recognition given by the State of Hawaii for outstanding literary achievement. The awards are co-sponsored by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Hawaii Literary Arts Council.

Stewart has published more than a dozen books, edited notable journals in Hawaii and was awarded the prestigious Whiting Writers Award in New York in 1986.

Keller, a former Star-Bulletin columnist, is the author of two novels, including "Comfort Women," which received national acclaim. She also co-edited two Bamboo Ridge anthologies and has written short stories and essays about life in Hawaii.

» City Managing Director Ben Lee has received the 2004 Ernest H. Hara, Fellow to the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) Distinguished Service Award from the University of Hawaii School of Architecture. The award recognizes outstanding leadership in and service to the architecture profession in Hawaii.

Lee is the sixth recipient of the award since its inception in 1995.

» Macy's West received recognition from state Sen. Lorraine Inouye (Hilo, Hamakua, Waimea) for its Thanks for Sharing community program, which raised $195,000 for local charities. From Oct. 15 through Jan. 10, Macy's Hawaii stores participated in the fund-raiser, boasting seven of the top 10 achievers among 141 stores in seven states and Guam. The stores included Ala Moana, Downtown, Hilo, Kahala, Kailua, Pearlridge and Windward.

» St. Anthony Parish School in Kailua was awarded $20,000 by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation for renovation of the grade school's playground equipment and the purchase of new physical education equipment.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU
Police say woman used counterfeit cash

Police arrested a 25-year-old Kalihi woman who allegedly tried to pass two counterfeit $20 bills at an Aiea bar early yesterday.

Police said the woman used a $20 bill to buy a drink at 12:30 a.m. at the 98-072 Kamehameha Highway bar.

About 20 minutes later, she bought another drink with another $20 bill, causing the bartender become suspicious, police said.

Using a counterfeit-detection pen, the bartender checked the bill and discovered it was a fake, police said.

He checked the first bill and found it to be counterfeit also, and called police.

Police arrested the woman for suspicion of first-degree forgery.

HONOLULU
Woman arrested with alleged stolen check

Police arrested a 19-year-old Palolo woman who allegedly tried to cash an out-of-state check at an Ala Moana-area business Tuesday night.

The clerk confirmed that the check had been reported stolen from a car break-in earlier in the day.

Police were called to 435 Atkinson Drive at about 7:55 p.m., and the suspect was arrested for suspicion of second-degree forgery.

The check belonged to a tourist visiting a family member, police said.

The suspect was released last night pending investigation.

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

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Newswatch Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff and wire Army takes Campbell land for $15.9 million The Army has agreed to pay landowner Campbell Estate $15.9 million for condemning 1,402 acres of private land at the Schofield Barracks south range. The Army says it intends to use the land to establish additional military facilities, including three rifle ranges, to prepare for the transformation of the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Hawaii and for other military uses. The Army filed formal notice of the condemnation yesterday in U.S. District Court. "Campbell (Estate) agreed to the price, so the condemnation is simply for the purposes of clearing all claims and making the public aware this is happening," Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Yee said yesterday. Once the courts issue a condemnation order, the Army will get clear title to the property, Yee said. The property is adjacent to the 27,000 acres that the Army occupies at Schofield. 2 groups supporting state library to merge The Friends of the Library and the Hawaii Library Foundation, two nonprofit groups that support Hawaii's public libraries, will merge into one organization by the end of the year. "This will cut overlapping administration costs while boosting fund raising for the state libraries," said Ben Matsubara, president of the Hawaii Library Foundation. "It's a win-win situation for everybody." The merger will increase the Friends of the Library's total assets to $5 million from $3.5 million. Caroline Bond, executive director of the Friends of the Library, will be executive director of the new organization, which will be known as the Friends of the Library of Hawaii. "We've been in talks for some time, concerned because our missions were, in many instances, duplicative," Matsubara said. "But it's business as usual. We're just enhancing both of our organizations by combining resources." City Council approves new farm tax formula The City Council unanimously approved a revised method of determining agricultural land taxes yesterday. "We believe that these changes will improve the dedication and assessment of agricultural lands and promote agriculture in the City and County of Honolulu," Budget Director Ivan Lui-Kwan told the Council. Lui-Kwan said the measure could lead to up to $4 million less in revenue for the city but that it achieved a "fair and workable" solution. The measure continues to use land values as the foundation for determining taxes, and farmers will still get discounts for dedicating their lands to farming. But to prevent rising land values from pushing up taxes, the bill also uses a formula that includes a per-acre valuation of crops to cap taxes at an affordable amount. The measure was a hybrid of proposals developed by the Council-appointed Task Force on Agricultural Real Property Taxes and Mayor Jeremy Harris' administration. Nov. 22 trial date set in Maui beating death WAILUKU » A man charged in the killing of a 32-year-old Valley Isle resident during an assault more than four years ago is scheduled to stand trail on Nov. 22 in Maui Circuit Court. Kamuela "Kami" Sanchez was being held on $150,000 bail this week after pleading not guilty to a manslaughter and third-degree assault in the death of Nathan Ilar. Sanchez was arrested in South Maui after police responded to a report of a burglary at a general store in Sugar Beach at 12:15 a.m. Saturday. Police later discovered there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Sanchez in connection with a grand jury indictment in February 2000. Maui Circuit Judge Joel August set bail at $150,000. Ilar, who was having a barbecue at the park, tried to break up a fight and suffered head injuries after being struck by a man. He died two days later. BACK TO TOP \| [ BRIEFLY ] Walk to raise funds for Lupus Foundation The Hawaii Lupus Foundation is holding its first "Shine a Light on Lupus Awareness Walk" Oct. 9 at Ala Moana Beach Park as a fund-raiser and a promotion of its youth education programs. The event is being held during National Lupus Awareness Month and to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Hawaii foundation. Live entertainment by local musician Jon Yamasato and the Epic Session band will be featured. Goodie bags, refreshments and festivities will be available to all participants. Participants may choose to walk a 1.5-mile Magic Island course or a 2.75-mile Ala Moana Park course, both of which will begin and end at the McCoy Pavilion. The walk will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. the day of the walk, but participants who register and turn in a minimum $25 donation by tomorrow will receive a walk T-shirt and a ticket for a drawing of prizes, including a trip to Las Vegas. The more donations collected, the more tickets received. To register, download the forms from www.lupuswalkhawaii.org or pick up packets from Locals Only at Ala Moana Center and the Hawaii Lupus Foundation office. For more information, visit www.hawaiilupus.org or call 538-1522. Some seniors can have electric wheelchairs Miracle on Wheels, a Santa Barbara, Calif., company, is providing electric wheelchairs to senior citizens (65 and older) or the permanently disabled of any age who qualify under Medicare requirements. There is usually no out-of-pocket expense or deposit required. The wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and cannot self-propel a manual wheelchair. Call 800-749-8778 or visit www.durablemedical.com for more information. Treatment for stroke highly rated at Queen's The Queen's Medical Center has received accreditation from the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for providing the highest-quality standards of stroke treatment. Only 29 programs in the United States have this certification, and Queen's Stroke Center is the first of its kind in Hawaii. Reviewers from the joint commission said Queen's complied with state-of-the-art national standards and performance in the "chain of survival" treatment for stroke. Stroke is the third leading causing of death in Hawaii and the leading cause of disability. The Stroke Center offers a stroke code team for rapid assessment of a patient's condition via physical exam, labs and CT scanning; a dedicated unit for treatment; and a "Get with the Guidelines Stroke" program (of the American Heart Institute) to prevent a second stroke. UH gets $1.2 million for diabetes research The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $1.2 million five-year grant to the University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene for diabetes research. The money will fund research by Dr. Jillian Inouye on a program to improve behaviors and the health of Asian/Pacific Islanders with Type 2 diabetes. People with Type 2 diabetes must take medication daily; meals must be timed, types of food must be distinguished, exercise must be timed in relationship to meals, and blood testing is often required two to three times a day. Achieving and sustaining such behaviors require not only information and knowledge, but skills, motivation and reinforcement, and highly effective behavioral self-management. Type 2 diabetes is a significant health concern for Asian/Pacific Islanders with few studies specifically looking at behavioral interventions for individuals and their significant others in this group. The grant will fund enrollment of 200 or more participants in Inouye's study. BACK TO TOP \| [ TAKING NOTICE ] » Frank Stewart and Nora Okja Keller have been selected as the 2002 and 2003 recipients, respectively, of the Hawaii Award for Literature, the highest recognition given by the State of Hawaii for outstanding literary achievement. The awards are co-sponsored by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Hawaii Literary Arts Council. Stewart has published more than a dozen books, edited notable journals in Hawaii and was awarded the prestigious Whiting Writers Award in New York in 1986. Keller, a former Star-Bulletin columnist, is the author of two novels, including "Comfort Women," which received national acclaim. She also co-edited two Bamboo Ridge anthologies and has written short stories and essays about life in Hawaii. » City Managing Director Ben Lee has received the 2004 Ernest H. Hara, Fellow to the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) Distinguished Service Award from the University of Hawaii School of Architecture. The award recognizes outstanding leadership in and service to the architecture profession in Hawaii. Lee is the sixth recipient of the award since its inception in 1995. » Macy's West received recognition from state Sen. Lorraine Inouye (Hilo, Hamakua, Waimea) for its Thanks for Sharing community program, which raised $195,000 for local charities. From Oct. 15 through Jan. 10, Macy's Hawaii stores participated in the fund-raiser, boasting seven of the top 10 achievers among 141 stores in seven states and Guam. The stores included Ala Moana, Downtown, Hilo, Kahala, Kailua, Pearlridge and Windward. » St. Anthony Parish School in Kailua was awarded $20,000 by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation for renovation of the grade school's playground equipment and the purchase of new physical education equipment. Police, Fire, Courts By Star-Bulletin staff LEEWARD OAHU Police say woman used counterfeit cash Police arrested a 25-year-old Kalihi woman who allegedly tried to pass two counterfeit $20 bills at an Aiea bar early yesterday. Police said the woman used a $20 bill to buy a drink at 12:30 a.m. at the 98-072 Kamehameha Highway bar. About 20 minutes later, she bought another drink with another $20 bill, causing the bartender become suspicious, police said. Using a counterfeit-detection pen, the bartender checked the bill and discovered it was a fake, police said. He checked the first bill and found it to be counterfeit also, and called police. Police arrested the woman for suspicion of first-degree forgery. HONOLULU Woman arrested with alleged stolen check Police arrested a 19-year-old Palolo woman who allegedly tried to cash an out-of-state check at an Ala Moana-area business Tuesday night. The clerk confirmed that the check had been reported stolen from a car break-in earlier in the day. Police were called to 435 Atkinson Drive at about 7:55 p.m., and the suspect was arrested for suspicion of second-degree forgery. The check belonged to a tourist visiting a family member, police said. The suspect was released last night pending investigation. Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —