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Print version - ©COPYRIGHT 2007 The Honolulu Advertiser -Hawaii's Newspaper , a Page 1 of 4 Posted on: Sunday, November 19, 2006 Domestic violence rising on Big Isle 8y Kevin Davton Advertiser Big Island Bureau HII,O, Hawaii -Ail four of the homicides on the Big Island during the past year involved alleged cases of domestic violence, and Big Island police say they have noticed a surge in domestic abuse arrests recently as well as cases in which domestic disputes escalate into potentially deadly confrontations. Police and domestic violence experts say they don't know why there would be an increase in abuse cases or deaths, but the police department leadership has been discussing the apparent trend at meetings with Chief Lawrence Mahuna, said Assistant Chief Elroy Osorio Jr. Demonstrators expressed [heir alarm In addition to the four deaths of women, another woman involved in a domestic dispute over the Big Island's surging domestic was seriously injured eazlier this yeaz when a Glenwood man used his car to ram her vlotence during a march Fnday in Hilo. vehicle on a Puna highway and then fatally shot himself in the head. KEVIN DAYTON !The Honolulu Advertiser Police also aze investigating a case in Ka'u in which a woman died of severe head injuries last week. Police arrested the husband of 56-year-old Yu Dejamette in connection with her death, but the husband was later released without charges pending further investigation. Osorio said police are making arrests in domestic cases, but that doesn't seem to be causing the numbers of cases to decline. Worse, the level of violence seems to be increasing, he said. "It used to be just some pushing and shoving, no visible injuries kind of thing, and now we're seeing weapons being involved, and more bmtality than anyone really wants to see," he said. "We're all very concerned about why this is happening." Steven Zodrow, executive director of Turning Point For Families, said he sees "a lack of interest, lack of awareness and Gazing about this issue" in the lazger Big Island community. Turning Point provides shelter to abuse victims, as well as counseling and education services. Service providers tried to underscore the problem during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October with candlelight vigils and a march, and the main event was attended by about 150 people. But Zodrow estimated 90 percent of those participants were victims or their family members, or came from nonprofits and other agencies that deal with the problem. "When a death occurs, there seems to be an immediate interest, but it doesn't progress to any movement," he said. "There's just no sincere interest, it appears to me, from the community to address this." hrip://the.honoluluadvertiser.corn/article/2006/Nov/19/In/FP611190355.htm1/?print=on Sn snnn~