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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 7, 2007

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Pedestrian who died is identified

Advertiser Staff

The city Department of the Medical Examiner has identified the man who was fatally injured while crossing a street near the Kapolei Business Park yesterday morning as Guoxuan Yang, 59, of Honolulu.

Police said Yang was struck by a car at 6:12 a.m. while he was crossing Kalaeloa Boulevard in the predawn darkness. Yang was taken to The Queen's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

There are no crosswalks or street lights in the area where Yang was hit.

He was the sixth pedestrian to be killed in traffic incidents on O'ahu this year.




KAUA'I

SNORKELER FROM CALIFORNIA DROWNS

A 53-year-old California woman drowned Monday while snorkeling off Kaua'i.

Debra Appell of Santa Maria, Calif., was snorkeling at "Hideaways" Beach, on the island's north shore near the Princeville Hotel, about 4 p.m. when she was swept out by the strong current and dangerous surf. Upon seeing that she was in distress, Appell's husband swam out and brought her to shore.

Other beachgoers and medical personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Appell at the scene, but were not able to resuscitate her. Appell was transported to Wilcox Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Appell's death marks the second drowning incident on Kaua'i this year.




O'AHU

'WEED AND SEED' GETS $250,000

The YMCA of Honolulu yesterday received a $250,000 grant award from Mayor Mufi Hannemann to help with the crime-fighting effort known as "Weed and Seed."

Since 1997, the city began designating certain neighborhoods as Weed and Seed communities. The idea is that they "weed" out crime through collaboration between law enforcement and resident community policing teams then "seed" the communities with revitalization efforts.

By targeting communities, those involved pull together: law enforcement; community policing; neighborhood restoration through beautification and economic development; and prevention, intervention and treatment.

The money comes to the city through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant program. Other communities that have used this approach include Kalihi-Palama, Chinatown, McCully-Ala Moana, Waipahu, 'Ewa and Wai'anae.




HALAWA

INMATE COLLAPSES AT PRISON, DIES

Police are investigating the death of a 44-year-old inmate who was found unconscious yesterday in an exercise yard at the state's sprawling Halawa Correctional Facility complex.

Approximately 25 inmates were in the recreation yard adjoining one of the prison modules at about 5:45 p.m. when one of them collapsed and became unresponsive, police said.

Louise Kim McCoy, spokeswoman for state Department of Public Safety, said staff at the prison immediately attempted to resuscitate the inmate. He was taken to Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi and pronounced dead at 6:42 p.m.

The prisoner was a general population inmate, and police were told he had no serious medical issues.

Honolulu police and the prison Internal Affairs section are both investigating, McCoy said. She said there was no indication of an altercation in the yard.




LILIHA

CAR HITS WOMAN AT INTERSECTION

A woman in her late 50s or early 60s was taken to Hawaii Medical Center East in stable condition after being struck by a vehicle while crossing an intersection at Liliha and Judd streets.

Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department, said emergency responders believe the woman was in a crosswalk when she was hit about 11 a.m.

The woman's injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, Cheplic said.