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Newswatch
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$6.33M in fed funds to help isle homeless
Hawaii will receive $6.33 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide shelter and services for the state's homeless.Seventeen private and governmental programs will receive $5.67 million to provide rental assistance, permanent and transitional housing, and services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse and child care.
The City and County of Honolulu and the state also will receive $658,000 to improve, expand and operate emergency shelters.
The money for Hawaii is part of $1.4 billion announced nationwide last month by HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson.
Effort nets $40,000 for tsunami victims
More than 350 Windward volunteers mobilized in a fund-raising effort that raised $40,709.84 for aid to victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in South Asia.Castle Medical Center President Kevin Roberts recently presented the check to the American Red Cross.
The money was raised in a rummage sale and silent auction staged Jan. 16 at Castle Medical Center.
Castle employees and other community members organized the event.
Some 48 Windward businesses and individuals contributed to the silent auction. Other businesses gave goods and services for the one-day event, which was co-sponsored by Kaneohe Ranch.
» Brian Klaschka of Kula, Maui, is the new chief of operations at the J. Walter Cameron Center, which houses and supports several nonprofit, health and social service agencies. Formerly, he was the business administrator and chief of operations and development with the Salvation Army for five years.
» Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Moon has received a National Honor Award for his leadership in the Hawaii Drug Court Program and for his role in the success of the Federal Weed and Seed Program, designed to reduce crime in depressed communities.
The U.S. Department of Justice awarded certificates of honor to Moon and Drug Court Judge Faaunga Tootoo on behalf of the First Circuit District Court, Garret Takahashi on behalf of the First Circuit Adult Probation Division and Warren Loo on behalf of the First Circuit Juvenile Probation Division.
» The West Honolulu Rotary Club has bestowed its 2004 David Malo Award on Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Irwin K. Cockett Jr., who served in Korea and Vietnam. The award is given annually to a person of Hawaiian ancestry who has made noteworthy contributions to the community.
Cockett was chairman and co-chairman of commemoration committees for Korean and Vietnam veterans, and is director of the Hawaii State Office of Veterans Services, an advocate program affecting 120,000 veterans.
A Kamehameha Schools alumnus, Cockett was the keynote speaker at the First Annual Native Hawaiian Conference and addressed the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2002 concerning Hawaiian veterans.
By Star-Bulletin staff
NORTH SHORE
Surf photographer dies of sea injuries
A 34-year-old surf photographer died yesterday of head injuries sustained in waters off Ehukai Beach Park, fire and emergency medical service officials said.Friends identified the victim as Jon Mozo.
Fire officials responded to the park, a main entrance to the popular Pipeline surf break, about 2:05 p.m. Mozo was taken in extremely critical condition to Kahuku Hospital, where he later died.
Mozo, who is well known for his surf photography, had a gallery in Hauula.
He had also photographed CD covers for more than 20 Hawaii musicians and shot advertising photos for a number of local companies, including Ala Moana Center and Bank of Hawaii.
In 1993, Mozo survived a shark attack while surfing near Goat Island. Friends said he was bitten on his legs and confined to a wheelchair for months.
According to his Web site (www.jonmozo.com), Mozo had a wife and four children.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Mo-ped driver injured in crash with pickup
Maui police said a 17-year-old mo-ped driver ran a red light at Leialii Parkway intersection Tuesday and rammed into a Ford F-150 pickup truck.The mo-ped's driver, who police identified as Christopher Boskoff, was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 48-year-old man, and his two passengers were uninjured.
Police said the accident happened about 6:08 p.m. when the pickup truck was making a left turn into Wahikuli State Wayside Park on a green arrow.
The mo-ped driver was traveling southbound on Honoapiilani Highway when he ran the red light.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police suspect arson in post office blaze
Honolulu fire investigators suspect someone threw an incendiary device down the mail chute of the Laie Post Office that started a fire in the mail room Tuesday night.Firefighters responded to calls that smoke was coming from the post office at 55-510 Kamehameha Highway about 10:05 p.m.
Fire officials said the smoke and flames caused an estimated $5,000 damage to the building and $2,000 damage to mail and parcels.
The official cause of the fire was under investigation.
Man held in shotgun attack on vehicle
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The victim, 40, had been at the park about 10:48 p.m. when he was approached by the suspect, 20, who wanted to buy a television and other property in the back of the victim's car, police said. The two men negotiated but could not agree, police said.
As the victim prepared to leave, the suspect fired several rounds from a shotgun, hitting the victim's left front and rear tires, police said. Police later arrested the suspect for investigation of criminal property damage and two firearm offenses including being a felon in possession of a firearm.
HONOLULU
Noise-weary neighbor allegedly stabs wall
Police arrested a 33-year-old man after he allegedly threatened his neighbor for making too much noise just after midnight Tuesday.Both the victim and suspect live in a North King Street apartment building, police said. Police said that about 12:20 a.m. the victim, a 22-year-old woman, was standing at her doorway talking to friends when the suspect punched the wall across from her apartment, then stabbed the wall with a knife.
The victim called police, and the suspect was arrested for investigation of first-degree terroristic threatening.
Man held in assault on nightclub doorman
Police arrested a man for allegedly hitting a Honolulu nightclub employee in the head with a metal pole after being kicked out of the club early yesterday.Police said the 36-year-old suspect had gotten into an argument with employees of Ocean Club at Restaurant Row about 12:35 a.m. and had been led outside by the doorman. Once outside, the suspect picked up a metal pole and hit the victim, a 22-year-old man, in the head.
Police arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree assault.
Police arrest juvenile riding locked mo-ped
Police arrested a juvenile male yesterday after he was seen attempting to ride a mo-ped with its steering locked.Police said the incident happened at 1010 Pensacola St. about 8:40 a.m. The suspect, whose age was not disclosed, was released pending an investigation.
Liquor racketeering nets 2 years in prison
A former supervisor with the Honolulu Liquor Commission was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in federal prison for conspiring with fellow employees to extort money from liquor establishments for overlooking liquor violations.David K.H. Lee was one of eight Liquor Commission employees indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2002. Lee pleaded guilty in September 2002 to conspiracy to commit racketeering and three counts of extortion.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Seabright argued yesterday before Chief Judge David Ezra that Lee should get 30 months based on his substantial assistance to the prosecution. Lee cooperated in the investigation and agreed to testify if needed against two employees who went to trial and were subsequently convicted.
Lee and his attorney, Rustam Barbee, could not be reached for comment.
According to a plea agreement, Lee admitted to receiving money from various liquor licensees and then distributing the cash in 2000-2001 to a fellow supervisor and six liquor investigators whom he supervised.
Kahuku man receives life term for murder
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Colonel Robert Taylor, 53, went on trial in Circuit Court in October, accused of shooting Jesus Camacho, 52, once in the chest. A jury found him guilty as charged for the shooting, three firearms offenses and first-degree promotion of marijuana.
Taylor initially told police that he had been drinking heavily and shot Camacho. But at trial he contended he made up the story so police would not go to the farm and discover the marijuana he had been cultivating in a barn some two miles above Kahuku. He alleged that individuals who had ripped him off and beat him up previously were responsible for shooting Camacho.
But yesterday, Taylor once again claimed that he had shot Camacho accidentally while the two of them were drinking. Camacho was playing a guitar while sitting on an overturned bucket when he lost his balance, Taylor told Circuit Judge Michael Wilson. Camacho made the mistake of grabbing his arm, and the gun went off, Taylor said.
Wilson said the combination of illegal drugs and guns Taylor was involved in likely contributed to the crimes.
Taylor also received 20 years each for a firearms offense and for promoting marijuana and 10 years each on two other firearms offenses. He must serve all terms at the same time, Wilson said.
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