O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Man critical after accident
A 41-year-old Kailua man remained in critical condition yesterday at the Queen's Medical Center following a Oct. 31 motorcycle accident near Punchbowl.
According to police, a 1993 Toyota Corolla, driven by a 83-year-old woman, turned left from Magellan Avenue onto 'Iolani Avenue and collided with the man's 1992 Honda motorcycle at 12:26 p.m.
The motorcyclist was taken to Queen's in critical condition, police said. The man, identified as Marvin Woolsey by a friend, was not wearing a helmet, police said.
Traffic victim is identified
The medical examiner has identified a 67-year-old woman killed Saturday after being hit by a bus as Betty S. Koga of Honolulu.
Koga was struck by an MCI tour bus near the K-Mart in Iwilei.
Police said she was crossing Iwilei Road, walking outside the crosswalk, at about 9:45 a.m.
The bus, driven by a 50-year-old Honolulu man, was making a right turn off Sumner Street on to Iwilei Road when it struck her.
Koga was taken by ambulance to The Queen's Medical Center, where she died.
An autopsy will be performed today.
Guam appeal heard today
A federal court is scheduled today to hear in Honolulu an appeal by the government of Guam of a Guam Supreme court ruling, which affirmed dismissal of an indictment brought against a man who claimed he used marijuana for religious purposes.
Guam native Benny Toves Guerrero, who goes by the Rastafarian name Ras Iyah Ben Makhana, was arrested Jan. 2, 1991, after he was found carrying marijuana at the Guam international airport.
Makhana, who will be represented at today's hearing by the American Civil Liberties Union, moved to have the indictment against him dismissed on the grounds that prosecution violated his right to free exercise of religion as granted by the Constitution of Guam and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
A lower court on Guam agreed with him and the Supreme Court of Guam affirmed that ruling last year. The government of Guam appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
WINDWARD
Medical plaza 95% leased
The opening of the new medical plaza at Castle Medical Center is months away, but already the building is 95 percent leased, officials said.
The building's framework was completed recently, putting construction ahead of schedule.
The $10 million structure, the most significant construction project under way in Windward O'ahu, is scheduled to open by the summer. The building will have physicians' offices and Castle's new Wellness Center.
Abandoned car issue slated
A public meeting to address abandoned cars in Waimanalo is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School cafeteria, 41-1330 Kalaniana'ole Highway.
Despite city efforts, more cars appeared on the streets in the area last week, said Elizabeth Martinez, who maintains a Web site about the problem.
Photo gallery set for display
The Friends of Waimanalo Library will unveil a collection of photographs taken and donated by National Geographic magazine from
6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Waimanalo Public and School Library, 41-1320 Kalaniana'ole Highway.
The photographs were taken for the February edition of the magazine's Zip U.S.A. series, which features communities designated by zip codes.
The library asked for the copies and received 11 9-by-11-inch photographs, which then were framed in koa by Patrick Ching, a Waimanalo artist, said Richard Burns, branch manager.
