Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, July 16, 1998

Aiea High sued over
student hazing

A former minor student who said he was injured last year during initiation or "hazing" by the Aiea High School boys soccer team has sued the state, alleging that coaches knew about the harmful practices and let them occur.

The suit, brought by Roderick Suza and his parents, Norma and Thomas Nakasono, names six former minor students, their parents and the state Department of Education.

It also names Ken Deckman, assistant boys soccer team coach, and Roy Miyoga, the school's athletic director at the time of the incident.

Suza alleges that the six former minor students punched, kicked, slapped and struck him Jan. 22, 1997, in a school locker room during school hours.

He also alleges that Deckman and Miyoga were on duty at the time of the alleged assault and knew about "hazing" procedures.

The suit alleges that such practices included requiring new soccer team members to shave their heads and to wear playing card "necklaces" during school hours under expressed or implied threat of bodily harm by other members.

Suza alleges that the practices continued, despite complaints by the plaintiffs and other concerned parents. He said he suffered physical and emotional distress and that the students acted intentionally, recklessly and negligently.

Firm recommends sewer-fee increase

The average Oahu household's monthly sewage bill would go from the current $33.65 to $83.94 in the year 2017 if the City Council follows a consultant's recommendations.

The increase -- averaging just over 4 percent each year -- is being proposed by public financial consultant Bartle Wells Associates to help pay for an anticipated $1.7 billion in sewage projects over the next two decades.

Rates for the fiscal year, which began July 1, have already been set, and the Council isn't expected to look at changing them until early next year.

But the Council's Budget Committee yesterday moved measures authorizing the city to sell two sets of revenue bonds totaling $350 million.

Environmental Services Director Kenn Sprague said the proposed increases aren't that bad because they mirror the projected rate of inflation.

Cayetano authorizes maritime agency

Gov. Ben Cayetano signed into law today a measure that opens the way for creation of a state authority to oversee the development of Hawaii's $2.5 billion maritime industry.

The measure creates a temporary commission that will make recommendations to next year's Legislature toward the creation of a permanent state Maritime Authority.

It also will recommend how the new agency will take over the overlapping jurisdictions and sometimes conflicting roles of state agencies now involved in waterfront activities.

"Our goal is to create a more efficient, one-stop maritime agency, which will be a great improvement over the existing system," Cayetano told the formal bill-signing ceremony at the Aloha Tower Marketplace overlooking Honolulu Harbor.

He hopes to name the 15 members of the temporary commission within a few days.

A key job for the new maritime authority will be to plan for berthing American Hawaii Cruises' new pair of super-sized interisland cruise ships that are expected to be delivered in 2003 and 2004 and for the growing number of visiting international cruise ships.

Hawaii, 16 states sue Baker & Taylor

Hawaii and 16 other states have filed a lawsuit against Baker & Taylor Inc. and its former owner, W.R. Grace & Co., alleging the bookseller overcharged public schools and libraries millions of dollars.

The 17 states claim the book wholesaler promised schools and libraries discounts of 40 percent or more beginning in 1980, but only gave discounts of 10 percent to 25 percent on many books, said Bob Butterworth, Florida attorney general.

W.R. Grace & Co. President Jim Ulsamer disagrees with the allegations.

"Baker & Taylor is confident it will disprove these allegations in court," he said in a released statement.

The states joining in the suit are Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Acting state Librarian Caroline Spencer didn't know about the suit and would not comment on it.

Bill would give housing aid to Hawaiians

WASHINGTON -- Native Hawaiians would be eligible for tens of millions of dollars in additional federal housing assistance under a bill approved yesterday by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

The bill is aimed at helping Native Hawaiians who are eligible to live on Hawaiian Home Lands but cannot afford private mortgages.

Under the bill, the federal government would give money to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in the form of block grants. The department, in turn, would use the money for loan guarantees and other housing programs to help needy Native Hawaiians.

The aid would be similar to the assistance now offered Native Americans and Alaska Natives, who, like Native Hawaiians, are not eligible for many other types of federal housing aid.

The amount of Native Hawaiian aid that would be available is still being calculated, but one Senate aide estimated it at $30 million. The money would not come from funds already set aside for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

The amendment to the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act was sponsored by Hawaii's two Democratic senators, Sen. Daniel Inouye and Sen. Daniel Akaka, both members of the committee.

Inouye said the measure "will enable the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assure that Hawaiian families who are on the waiting list but who may not qualify for conventional mortgages will not be passed over year after year."

New domestic violence victim protection laws

A pair of new laws will give additional protection to domestic violence victims.

The bills were among 12 signed into law yesterday by Gov. Ben Cayetano, who has until Tuesday to sign bills or let them become law without his signature.

One law will prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against victims of domestic abuse.

The other imposes stricter penalties and additional supervision on convicted abusers and those who violate restraining orders, allows for unlimited extentions of protective orders, makes a third domestic violence conviction in two years a felony, and disallows a deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in domestic violence cases.

"The more accountable he is, the safer she will be," said Nanci Kreidman of the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse.

Kreidman also applauded a section of the law that would give to the spouse and child abuse special fund money collected from increased fines imposed on those who violate restraining orders.

Kreidman is looking at possible legislation for next year, which includes a proposal to increase penalties for those who commit domestic abuse in front of children.

The clearinghouse also may support efforts to strengthen the ability of police to seize guns from suspected abusers, a provision in the domestic violence bill that failed in this year's Legislature.

Anderson decides not to run against Mink

Unable to raise sufficient campaign funds, state Senate Republican leader Whitney Anderson says he has decided to not challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, who represents rural Oahu and the neighbor islands.

Anderson (Kailua) said yesterday he has been able to raise only $30,000 -- one-tenth of the minimum he believes is necessary to wage a credible campaign against Mink. He attributed part of his fund-raising problems to the poor economy.

Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano is scheduled today to file his nomination papers for re-election.

Seeking the GOP nomination to face Cayetano in November are former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi and Maui Mayor Linda Lingle.

Saturday concert will benefit victim's family

A benefit concert for the family of an Army helicopter pilot killed in Waianae will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Paradise Cove.

The concert, featuring Polynesian and country-western acts, is being organized by a group called Waianae Cares. The group was formed after Chief Warrant Officer John Latchum Jr. was shot and killed at the Waianae Army Recreation Center on June 3.

The group said in a press release it hopes the concert will promote awareness of what can happen when guns and drugs get into the hands of the wrong people.

Pre-sale tickets are $12.50 for adults and $6.50 for children. The tickets will also be available at the gate for $15 and $7.50. Tickets can be purchased at the Newspaper-West Coast Chronicle, BK West in the Waianae Shopping Mall and A & P Payless Auto Parts.

Waianae Cares will stop accepting donations for the Latchum family after Sunday.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Pipe bomb explodes at
Kailua playground

By Jaymes Song, Star-Bulletin

At least two dozen children were nearby when a homemade plastic pipe bomb exploded in a Kailua playground yesterday afternoon.

"It was very powerful," said police detective Jimmy Kawakami. "It could have caused death, and we're very fortunate no one was injured."

Witnesses observed a boy holding the pipe bomb and entering the men's bathroom of the Kalaheo Playground in Kailua at about 4:20 p.m., police said. The bomb exploded when he threw it in the toilet, shattering the bowl into hundreds of pieces.

Fragments flew around in the restroom, damaging the walls.

Witnesses told police the boy ran from the scene.

A 16-year-old Kailua boy was apprehended nearby. He was booked for first-degree property damage and using a prohibited explosive device. He was released pending further investigation.

Neighbor Alicia Ethridge said she is concerned because she has two young boys, 2 and 3, who like to play at the park.

"That's really scary," she said. "You think your kids are safe playing at the park and something like this could happen."

Man who hit photojournalist wants to withdraw 1 plea

Luther Niheu Jr. didn't know about a recent state Supreme Court ruling when he pleaded no-contest to three offenses in the 1996 death of Honolulu Advertiser photojournalist Carl Viti, his attorney says.

Niheu now wants to withdraw one of his pleas -- not to dispute the facts of his role in Viti's death, but to see how the ruling applies to his case, Hayden Aluli, Niheu's attorney, said yesterday after a judge reset Niheu's sentencing to Aug. 5.

"As a lawyer, I have to raise the issue so Luther doesn't have a complaint with the process or with me," Aluli said.

Aluli said neither he nor Niheu knew about the February ruling when Niheu changed his pleas in April.

Niheu pleaded no-contest to failing to render aid, a felony that carries up to 10 years in prison.

He also pleaded no-contest to two misdemeanors: third-degree negligent homicide, which has a maximum one-year term, and driving without a license, which carries a 30-day term.

During the Aug. 5 hearing before Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario, Niheu intends to ask to withdraw his plea for failing to render aid.

Federal drug agents arrest four at airport

Federal drug agents have arrested two women and two men after recovering 4 pounds of cocaine at Honolulu Airport.

Dominique Pierre, 42, Henry Boorstin, 41, Christi Olson, 39 and Ronald Delatorre were charged yesterday for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, according to a criminal complaint filed by Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

According to DEA Special Agent Michael Rothermund, Olson and Delatorre were arrested Tuesday after they sold 10 ounces of cocaine to an informant for $7,500. About 3 pounds of cocaine were then seized during a search of a suspect's vehicle, Rothermund said.

Pierre and Boorstin were arrested at the airport later Tuesday.

Police Narcotics/Vice Division Capt. Thomas Nitta said drug busts at the airport are usually large because the suspects are transporting the drugs to sell, not for personal use.

Man with screwdriver robs Waipio gas station

Police are searching for a tall, thin man who robbed a gas station with a screwdriver.

The suspect entered the Waipio Gentry Gas Express at about 7:35 a.m. yesterday, police said. He pulled out a screwdriver and demanded money from the clerk.

The suspect then removed $40 from the cash register and ran from the store. The clerk was not injured.

Police said the man is described as 6 feet 6 inches tall, 130 pounds with blond hair. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt and black pants.

International Savings Waipahu branch robbed

The Waipahu branch of International Savings and Loan was robbed yesterday by a slender Caucasian man wearing a pink and yellow short-sleeve shirt and dark pants, police said.

The suspect entered the bank at 94-210 Pupukahi St. at 2:07 p.m. and presented a demand note to the teller.

He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Yesterday's was the 25th robbery this year of a financial institution in Hawaii.

Man who robbed banks on mainland may be here

A 30-year-old man wanted for robbing two banks in North Carolina is believed to be in Hawaii.

Ronald Samsel is described as Caucasian, 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds. He is considered armed and dangerous, the FBI said.

Samsel reportedly traveled to Hawaii after robbing a bank on May 12. He robbed a second bank on June 5.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 521-1411.

In other news...

Big Island police yesterday seized 14,836 marijuana plants in Puna and south Hilo in the third day of its field operation.

Police have seized a total of 45,998 plants in the operation.

Big Island police are looking for a 36-year-old south Kona woman missing since June 13. Police described Michele G. Adam as 5-feet 1-inch tall, 85 pounds, with long straight brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kona police, 326-4646.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.