UH earns reaccreditation

The University of Hawaii’s flagship campus at Manoa is being reaccredited for the next 10 years, the maximum time possible.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges notified the school this week. Accreditors praised UH for gathering and interpreting data on retention and graduation while also developing a new strategic plan.

UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said Thursday the reaccreditation is a milestone which reflects the efforts of hundreds of people generating ideas, writing reports and visiting the WASC teams.

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Reed Dasenbrock said few institutions in the WASC region earn the 10-year reaccreditation, which sends a signal about the university’s quality.

New trial set in alleged molestation

HILO >> A mistrial has been declared in a Hawaii County molestation case because of a delay in disclosing witness statements and police reports.

Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Thursday that Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara granted a mistrial in the case against Christopher Zion, a 37-year-old math instructor at a Minnesota community college accused of molesting two former stepsons.

Opening arguments from both sides had been made earlier this week when Zion’s attorney moved for a mistrial after prosecutors presented him with 59 pages of previously undiscovered police reports. The prosecution says the reports weren’t found earlier because Zion changed his name from Matthew Hagedorn in 2002.

A new trial has been scheduled before a new jury in November.

Police post videos of crimes

The Kauai Police Department is the first in the state to post surveillance videos of crimes on a website.

“Our website is a service that is available to the public 24/7 and we want to utilize that tool in the most efficient and effective manner,” said Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry in a written statement.

Kauai Police Assistant Chief Roy Asher said with the public’s help, police were able to obtain the identification of a suspect in one of the two videos of separate thefts.

A video posted on www.kauai.gov/police shows a male suspect attempting to break into a residence on South Aliomanu Road in Anahola just before 4:30 p.m. May 11. Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call Crime-Stoppers at 241-1887.

Risks abound online

Hawaii lawmakers are gathering next week for a meeting on the growing sophistication of cybercrime. Republican members of the state House of Representatives are leading the briefing at the Capitol on Tuesday. Maui Rep. George Fontaine, a retired police captain, says Internet attacks can come from anyone and cause financial, social and emotional damage.