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Meeting to focus on irradiator plans

A plan to build Hawaii's second commercial irradiator will be the subject of a public meeting in Honolulu next week by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

At the Aug. 31 meeting at the Ala Moana Hotel, NRC staff will provide information on the process that will be used to review an application submitted by Pa'ina Hawaii to build an underwater pool-type irradiator near Honolulu Airport.

The device would be used mainly to irradiate fresh fruit and vegetables to kill bacteria and sterilize fruit flies or other pests before shipment to the mainland, NRC officials said.

The company would also irradiate cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, as well as a wide range of other materials, and conduct research and development activities, the commission said.

Materials to be irradiated would be loaded into a stainless steel chamber then lowered into a water-filled pool, where they would be exposed to radiation, it said.

Hawaii's only irradiator, which is owned by Hawaii Pride, has been in operation in Keeau on the Big Island since 2000.

Family sues killer of Kailua man

The family of a Kailua man shot over an apparent drug dispute has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the man convicted of murdering him.

After visiting the Manoa home of a former business associate on Aug. 29, 2003, Yorck Woita, 28, was never seen or heard from again.

Gregory Awana, a former investigator for the city medical examiner, later admitted to shooting Woita accidentally during a struggle and dumping Woita's body into the ocean miles from Kaneohe Bay. He was convicted in state court Dec. 3 of second-degree murder and is serving a life term with the possibility of parole.

Woita's body was never found.

The suit filed in Circuit Court yesterday by Woita's mother, sister and father seeks damages to be determined at trial.

At Awana's trial, prosecutors maintained that Woita, a marijuana dealer, became angry after learning that Awana had started an indoor marijuana operation at the Manoa home without him. He confronted Awana and ordered him to show him the operation and give him money he felt he was owed.

Awana testified at trial that an enraged Woita pointed the gun at him and threatened to kill him and his family, so he rushed Woita in self-defense.

After Woita was shot, Awana said he panicked and drove Woita's SUV to Waimanalo, where he set it afire. He said he got rid of Woita's body the next day using a boat he borrowed from a friend.

Plan aims to ensure hotel-room supply

City Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz wants to make sure that Honolulu has a sufficient supply of hotel rooms to meet tourism industry needs.

He has introduced a bill to establish a permitting process for hotels looking to convert rooms into condominium units.

"If the trend continues, the number of hotels converting to condominiums will significantly reduce the number of guest rooms available on our island and, more importantly, reduce the number of local jobs in our economy," Dela Cruz said in a news release.

Under the measure, the permit would be required for any conversion at a hotel with more than 200 lodging units.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

CENTRAL OAHU

Suspect is sought in Wahiawa shooting

Wahiawa police were searching for a suspect last night in the shooting of a 40-year-old man on Ohai Street in Wahiawa.

The victim was in serious condition when he was transported by ambulance to the Queen's Medical Center.

He had also been bitten by a dog, said Emergency Medical Services supervisor Norman Hahn.

Witnesses told police the shooting suspect left the scene in a white sedan.

LEEWARD OAHU

Dad gets arm broken in argument with son

Police arrested a 23-year-old man who allegedly broke his father's arm with a baseball bat Sunday.

The incident occurred about 1:15 a.m. at the family's home in Aiea.

The suspect and his father, 54, got into an argument that escalated into a fight, police said.

The suspect allegedly hit his father several times with a bat, breaking his arm and causing multiple fractures, police said.

Police arrested the son for investigation of second-degree assault.

Police investigating skeleton in Waikele

Homicide investigators are looking into skeletal remains that were found in Waikele on Monday.

Police said someone reported finding the remains near Pakela and Kukula streets about 10:30 a.m. The case is classified as an unattended death.