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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Aiona to join national council to fight drugs
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona has been appointed by President Bush to be a member of the Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities.
The 11-member commission was established to make recommendations to John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, concerning the Drug-Free Communities program.
In a news release, Aiona said Walters met with various officials in Hawaii last August including treatment providers, law enforcement, youth service coordinators and mental health professionals to learn about collaborative efforts of drug prevention in Hawaii schools and neighborhoods.
"Serving on this commission is an ideal opportunity to keep Hawaii's efforts at the forefront of the national fight against drugs and alcohol," Aiona said.
The Drug-Free Communities program provides grants of up to $100,000 to organizations that assemble their communities to prevent drug use among youth. The grants enable organizations to strengthen their coordination and prevention efforts.
Over the past two years, organizations that include Parents and Children Together, Waipahu Community Association, Five Mountains Hawaii, West Kauai Business and Professional Association, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii and Kumpang Lanai (Coalition for Drug-Free Lanai) were grant recipients.
2 sentenced over meth lab in Waikiki
Two people have been sentenced to serve time in prison for operating a meth lab in Waikiki.
Last week, U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright sentenced Allen Hanaoka, 38, to serve 57 months in prison after he pleaded guilty earlier to one count of using a residence to manufacture methamphetamine.
Earlier, Cindy Shishido, 36, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine.
Both were arrested on May 4 after agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and officers from the Honolulu Police Department executed a federal search warrant at their Waikiki apartment. Shishido's 6-year-old son also lived at the apartment.
During sentencing, Seabright emphasized that Hanaoka's actions to operate a meth lab put Shishido's 6-year-old son's health at risk as well as other residents in the high-rise apartment.
"This case shows that people who are involved in meth lab operations will do so without due regard to the safety of families or even our young children who are exposed to these deadly fumes and toxic meth residue," U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said in a news release.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hana man, 20, dies in accidental shooting
A 20-year-old Hana man died Saturday in an accidental shooting on Maui.
At about 7:43 p.m., police said, an 18-year-old Koali man was loading a rifle while standing outside of a pickup truck with two male acquaintances. The rifle accidentally discharged and struck one of his acquaintances in the chest.
Police said the man died before he reached the Hana Community Medical Center. Police recovered the rifle and said there was no evidence of foul play. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
HONOLULU
Search resumes for missing swimmer
The Honolulu Fire Department and the Coast Guard were to resume their search this morning for a 21-year-old man who was last seen Saturday swimming off Portlock.
Divers from fire rescue focused their search yesterday in waters about 400 yards from China Walls and Spitting Caves, where a witness last saw the swimmer, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.
According to Navy spokeswoman Lt. Barbara Mertz, the missing man is a sailor aboard the USS Lake Erie, a guided -missile cruiser based at Pearl Harbor. "His shipmates are hopeful for a positive outcome," Mertz said.
At about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the man was with two friends when he jumped into a spot known as Spitting Caves.
Tejada said the man had trouble getting out of the water because of the strong currents. His friends saw him swimming toward China Walls. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson said they searched about 100 square miles of water near Spitting Caves and Makapuu.
Neiman Marcus theft by woman, 74, alleged
Police arrested a 74-year-old Waikiki woman Saturday after she allegedly stole merchandise at a department store at Ala Moana Center.
Store security apprehended the suspect after she exited Neiman Marcus, where they said she shoplifted merchandise valued at more than $300 at around 4 p.m.
Police arrested her on suspicion of second-degree theft.
Mo-ped driver, 35, critically hurt in crash
A 35-year-old Honolulu man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition yesterday after he lost control of his mo-ped and landed on the roadway on Magellan Avenue near Alapai Street.
At about 12:01 a.m. the man was traveling east on Magellan Avenue at high speed on his green 2002 CPI mo-ped, police said.
He lost control, struck a guardrail and was ejected onto the roadway. He was taken to Queen's with severe head and multiple bodily injuries.
Speed was a factor, police said. The man was not wearing a helmet.
Hawaii Kai bicyclist killed by bus identified
The Department of the Medical Examiner identified a 75-year-old bicyclist who was struck by a city bus Friday as Jichao Wang of Hawaii Kai.
Wang was crossing Kalanianaole Highway outside a crosswalk when he was struck by a city bus heading east near East Hind Drive. He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where he later died.
LEEWARD OAHU
3 men sought in Waikele holdup
Police are looking for three males who allegedly robbed three male teenagers Saturday at a bus stop in Waikele.
Police said the victims were approached by the suspects at about 9:45 p.m. at a bus stop across from McDonald's at 94-795 Lumiaina Street. One suspect brandished a handgun and the other two had knives. They demanded the victims' valuables before fleeing in a vehicle, police said.