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» Neal Kazuhiro Akatsuka of Kaneohe, Troop 49, was promoted to the rank of Eagle Scout by the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is chartered by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.

» Four winners were named Hawaii's Outstanding Advocates for Hawaii's Children and Youth by Hawaiian Electric Co., the Hawaii Youth Services Network and Gov. Linda Lingle. They are:

Robert J. Bidwell, M.D., for his work with assisting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in dealing with discrimination and harassment.

Lonia Burroughs, for improving the quality of life for children with disabilities in the schools.

Ted Sakai, for his work with Good Beginnings Alliance, the Hawaii Coalition of Dads, the Institution for Family Enrichment and others to form the SKIP (Supporting Keiki of Incarcerated Parents) program at the Wahiawa Correctional Facility.

Weed & Seed Site 1 (KalihiValley/Kalihi/Palama/ Chinatown/Downtown/Ala Moana/McCully), whose staff and police officers have enriched the lives of children in these communities while weeding out drug dealers and violent criminals.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU
Head injuries kill homeless man

Police are asking for help in finding witnesses or suspects in the killing of a 54-year-old homeless man found at Waikele Community Park, 94-870 Lumiaina St.

The victim, Owen Hamada, was found about 7 a.m. Monday in the women's restroom.

Police said Hamada had been assaulted and died of multiple head injuries.

Anyone with information about this case or anyone who might have seen Hamada Sunday evening is asked to contact Detective James Anderson at 529-3356 or call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cell phone.

HONOLULU
Man asks to borrow cell phone, steals $15

Police are looking for a man who robbed a woman of $15 under the pretense of needing to borrow her cell phone.

The incident occurred at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday near Kama and Hone lanes in Kalihi. Police said the victim, a 38-year-old woman, was returning to her vehicle when the suspect approached her from behind asking to borrow her cell phone.

Police said the suspect pretended to dial the phone but then demanded money from the victim and told her he had a gun. The victim did not see a gun, but did see a small silver object in his right hand.

The victim gave her wallet to the suspect, who allegedly took $15. Police said he also took her cell phone. The suspect is described only as being in his 20s.

WAIKIKI
'Sweetheart swindle' suspects visit Hawaii

Four people known to be visiting Hawaii are wanted in California for swindling a Sacramento man out of $140,000.

The four are wanted on felony warrants from the Yolo County District Attorney's Office for participating in a so-called "sweetheart swindle," according to police. The suspects posed as family members and targeted senior citizens, according to Honolulu CrimeStoppers Inc.

In the scam a suspect will befriend an elderly person, lavishing attention and sometimes pretending romantic intentions. Then the scam artist seeks financial help, starting on a small scale but escalating demands, police said.

The suspects are identified as Bobby D., Steve, Laura and Kisie John.

CrimeStoppers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that results in the arrest of a wanted person or the solving of the case. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or by dialing *CRIME on a cellular phone. All calls are confidential.

WINDWARD OAHU
4 hikers airlifted from Koolau trail

Honolulu police airlifted a hiking party of four people who were stranded along the Koolau Summit Trail yesterday morning.

The group was planning to hike from Wahiawa to Laie but got stuck on the trail. The police helicopter was used to rescue them. The hikers were uninjured.