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Kaiser Permanente wins recognition

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii ranks No. 1 in the nation for care of Medicaid members and is among the top 10 health-care providers for Medicare patients, according to performance measures by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Jan Head, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, said, "This is a great example of what teamwork among health-care providers, in concert with the health plan, can accomplish."

Dr. Michael Chaffin, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group president, said, "By prioritizing a member's relationship with his or her physician and the health-care team, tasks required for effective, preventive care and disease management are shared by the team." This approach let Kaiser Permanente Hawaii attain the top rankings, he said.

UH students offer free tax preparation

The University of Hawaii-West Oahu Accounting Club and the local chapter of Students in Free Enterprise are offering free tax preparation assistance as part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Student volunteers will prepare 2004 federal and state tax returns for free every Saturday in February and March from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with doors closing at noon, in the UH-West Oahu Computer Lab, Room D-105.

Low- or moderate-income taxpayers should not have any rental, or self-employment business income.

Taxpayers should bring two IDs (one with a photo), 2004 tax papers (W-2s, 1099s, etc.), accurate Social Security numbers and legal names of all people being claimed, and a copy of their 2003 tax returns, if possible.

For more information, contact Roy Kamida at 454-4732.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
4 held in sales of phony Pro Bowl shirts

Four men were arrested yesterday for allegedly selling fake Pro Bowl T-shirts to football fans at Aloha Stadium.

Police said the suspects were arrested on suspicion of trademark counterfeiting, which is considered a Class C felony.

Lt. Jeff Richards of the Honolulu Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division said one of the four men has sold fake T-shirts before.

Five detectives worked with NFL officials to monitor anyone selling fake T-shirts at the stadium yesterday.

Officials did not know how many T-shirts were sold by the suspects, Richards said.

The Pro Bowl event was sold out yesterday with an estimated 49,500 people attending the football game, said Patrick Leonard, spokesman for Aloha Stadium.

Last year, police seized an estimated 200 fake Pro Bowl T-shirts in Honolulu worth an estimated $4,000.

Police arrested three men last year on suspicion of trademark counterfeiting after they were caught selling allegedly fake Pro Bowl items. Two pleaded guilty for counterfeiting. The third is awaiting trial.

BIG ISLAND
Kona man charged after airport 'ice' bust

KAILUA-KONA » Numerous charges have been filed against a Kailua-Kona man described by Big Island police as a suspected "ice" distributor.

Police said yesterday that they seized packets of crystal methamphetamine when Nathan Abe was arrested Wednesday at Keahole-Kona International Airport.

As part of the investigation, search warrants were also executed at three other locations in the Kailua-Kona area, police said.

Police said they recovered 42.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine, marijuana seeds, glass smoke pipes, gram scales and a firearm.

Police also seized a motor vehicle and $601 in cash.

Abe was charged with one count of unlawful trafficking of methamphetamine, five counts of promoting a dangerous drug, one count of promoting a detrimental drug, five counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, four firearm offenses and one count of obstructing governmental operations.

He was freed on $56,500 bail.