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» Sandra Yahiro, a personnel officer with the state Department of Taxation, was named State Manager of the Year for 2004; and Liane Kimura, a data processing systems analyst with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, was named State Employee of the Year. The Membership File Integrity Section Team from the Department of Human Services received the State Team of the Year award.

» The Hawaii State Bar Association has given Burnham "Hod" Greeley the C. Fredrick Schutte Award for years of leadership, most notably in the Hawaii association and the American Bar Association. 'Olelo Community Television received the 'Ikena Award for outstanding service to the public in providing legal educational outlets. Paul J. Durbin was given the President's Award for his life's work as a lawyer championing the underdog and the needy.

» The Agriculture Awards bestowed by the Agriculture Conference 2004 were given to Harold Tanouye of Green Point Nurseries in Hilo, who was recognized for having an Outstanding Agricultural Operation; Thomas and Eva-Marie Kafsack of Surfing Goat Dairies in Kula, who received the New Farm Operation Award; and David "Buddy" Nobriga of Nobriga Ranch in Wailuku.

» Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii was chosen as October's Chapter of the Month by its corporate headquarters. The chapter's newest facility is the RMHC Family Room, a respite and support center inside the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children for families of children undergoing major medical procedure.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hilo man dies after car crashes in the rain

HILO » Big Island resident Shane A. Beauchan, 32, of Hilo died after a one-car crash south of Hilo about 1:30 a.m. yesterday, police said.

Speed and alcohol were believed to be factors in the accident, they said.

Beauchan was riding alone in a 1991 Nissan sedan on Volcano Highway near the entrance to Shipman Business Park when the accident took place. He lost control on the rainy road and veered off the left side, hitting an embankment, police said. Beauchan was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car.

Beauchan's death is the sixth of the year on the Big Island, compared with one at the same time last year.

WINDWARD OAHU
Golf-cart injuries lead to tourist's death

A 63-year-old Japanese tourist died after injuring himself while driving a golf cart yesterday in Kahuku.

Police said the incident took place at 3:30 p.m. and that the victim was transported to a hospital, where he never recovered. The case has been classified an unattended death.

LEEWARD OAHU
Pearl City fire destroys a suspected 'ice' house

Fire tore through a Pearl City home containing chemicals that could be used to concoct crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," firefighters said.

The fire yesterday morning at Hookumu Place was under control in about 10 minutes.

"It appears that there's heavy charring in one of the middle bedrooms," Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Emmit Kane said. "Fortunately, nobody was home at the time. Sadly though, two cats did perish in this fire."

The owners, a woman in her 60s and her son, had been thinking about selling the property, neighbors said.

The home was sparsely furnished, and damage to its contents is estimated at just $35,000, fire investigators said. Damage to the structure is estimated at $300,000.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Teen boy is arrested for alleged sex assault

Police arrested a 15-year-old boy Thursday for allegedly breaking into an 18-year-old female's home and fondling her.

The suspect entered the victim's home in Waianae at 5:30 a.m., then fled on foot after the assault. He was located nearby a short time later and arrested for first-degree burglary and fourth-degree sex assault.

2 women arrested in attempted theft

A Pearlridge store employee and her friend were caught trying to steal almost $1,000 worth of merchandise earlier this week, police said.

Police said the incident took place Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. and involved two 18-year-old female suspects. Police said one suspect selected $957.46 in merchandise then took the items to her friend, an employee of the store, who then faked scanning the items at the cash register.

The items were then placed in a bag and carried out of the store by the first suspect, police said. However, store security stopped her. Police were called and arrested both suspects for second-degree theft.

HONOLULU
Female suspect held in home burglary

Neighbors caught a 30-year-old woman who had allegedly been stealing items from a vacant house Thursday.

Police said the suspect was seen walking out of an Iolani Avenue residence before 5 p.m. with stolen items and that more items from the house were found in the bed of the pickup truck used by the suspect. Neighbors managed to detain the suspect until police arrived. She was arrested for first-degree burglary.