The H4 Hawai`i Times - News with Ryan Ozawa!

The H4 Hawai`i Times - News with Ryan Ozawa! Hawai`i News via Ryan Ozawa's Ka `Upena K ukui

<> ----------[ K A `U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ---------------------------- "The Net of Light" ---------------------------- Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa Monday, December 15, 1997 prophet@aloha.net Vol. 3, No. 6 http://www.aloha.net/~prophet/kaupena.html ============================================================================ Subject: H-3 FREEWAY FINALLY OPENS Nearly four decades in the making, the H-3 freeway -- completed this year at a total cost of about $1.3 billion -- opened to the public Friday afternoon. During ceremonies held that afternoon, Gov. Ben Cayetano said the H-3 spanned history from statehood to the new millennium. He also said the "spectacular and beautiful" view the freeway affords of the Windward side is among its greatest features. Connecting Leeward and Windward O`ahu, the 16-mile route is considered by some to be the nation's most expensive highway. In all, about $1,000 for every person in Honolulu went into the H-3; each mile cost an average of $81 million. Key to the thoroughfare are the mile-long Tetsuo Harano Tunnels, which bore through the massive Ko`olau mountains. The tunnels are nearly twice as long as the Wilson Tunnel on Likelike Highway, and over three times longer than the Pali Tunnels. Named for a former director of the state Department of Transportation's highways division, the tunnels alone cost $275 million to build. The H-3 is also the state's most high-tech highway. Several signs are enhanced with electric displays that can warn motorists of upcoming problems. The tunnels, meanwhile, are filled with cameras, speed and exhaust sensors and radio transmitters that can interrupt commercial stations to relay emergency information. The tunnels also house a traffic control center which will be staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Trained personnel will monitor congestion, reroute traffic around stalls or accidents, and communicate with emergency vehicles. Inside, three million German-made, hand-set ceramic tiles make efficient use of light and repel road grime. Several Hawaiian groups, however, are not impressed. The H-3 has been the center of controversy through much of its long history. A number of protests were staged to protect ancient heiau and other historic Hawaiian sites that dotted Halawa Valley. While the freeway was rerouted in mid-construction to avoid some cultural sites, Hawaiian groups say several sacred places were nonetheless destroyed. Earlier this year, the groups asked the public not to participate in tours and a "fun run" held in anticipation of the H-3 opening. Today, many still urge Honolulu residents to avoid using it. Despite their appeals, however, state officials said the H-3 -- opening on Friday to give commuters time to get used to new route before using it to get to work today -- was well used. During rush hour this morning, state officials said the H-3 carried more than 6,000 town-bound commuters. The high volume of traffic on the new freeway means considerably less congestion on Pali and Likelike highways. Yesterday, the freeway saw its first traffic jam. The reason? Town- bound motorists were pulling onto the shoulder to admire the H-3's much- lauded view of the Windward side. Nearly 100,000 cars drove on the H-3 during its introductory weekend. The H-3 is designed to handle up to 4,000 cars per hour, with average- use estimates of around 15,000 cars a day. In all, about 30,000 commuters a day will make use of the three trans-Ko`olau routes. Meanwhile, merchants at Pearlridge Shopping Center and Windward Mall -- situated at opposite ends of the H-3 -- are mixed on predicting how the new freeway will affect business. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: FASI SETS SIGHTS ON GOVERNOR'S SEAT Frank Fasi is running for governor. Again. The former Honolulu mayor and longtime political personality announced last week that he will run as a Republican, challenging Maui Mayor Linda Lingle for the GOP nomination. After serving as mayor for an unprecedented 22 years, Fasi left his post in 1994 for a failed bid for the governor's office. Although he ran as an independent, he came in second. He said the focus of his upcoming campaign will be experience -- experience that he said Lingle doesn't have. "She is a good woman and she has done pretty well with a small county but... the experience is not there," he said. Fasi also said the Democratic party is frequently swayed by labor unions, and that Hawai`i is itching to overturn the status quo. If Fasi manages to raise the approximately $2 million he estimates is needed to launch a campaign, it will be his fifth gubernatorial run. Lingle said she welcomed Fasi into the race. Saying she has a proven record of working with the Legislature and bringing people together, she said voters will probably choose on the basis of style. With Gov. Ben Cayetano running for reelection, Fasi's announcement brings the total number of major gubernatorial candidates to three -- four if Mayor Jeremy Harris decides to follow Fasi's lead and run mid-term. Money-wise, Cayetano is said to have a substantial head start with a campaign war chest of over $1.5 million. Lingle's campaign, meanwhile, checks in at just over $100,000. Both Fasi and Harris are reportedly in debt. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RUNNERS KEEP COOL IN HONOLULU MARATHON More than 26,000 runners crossed the finish line yesterday in the 25th Honolulu Marathon, making it one of the largest in history. With over 33,000 people registered for the 26-mile run -- an increase of 10 percent over last year -- yesterday's race was also third-largest marathon held in the country this year. Race organizers estimate as many as 18,000 runners -- or 51 percent of race participants -- were from Japan. Because of its proven popularity, several million dollars are invested in advertising the marathon in Japan every year. Japan Airlines, a major sponsor, reported sold-out flights for several days before the race, despite scheduling six extra flights. State economists credit the Honolulu Marathon with bringing in over $130,000 in tourism revenue, making it the largest single commercial event held in Hawai`i. Last year's marathon netted island businesses an estimated $103,000. In addition to growing numbers of participants from the U.S. and Europe, organizers said about 10,000 Hawai`i residents registered to run. The starting gun fired before sunrise at 5 a.m. on Ala Moana Boulevard. Two hours and 12 minutes later, Kenya's Eric Kimoto, 26, crossed the finish line, taking first place for the second year in a row. Eleven minutes later, Svetlana Vasilieva of Russia, 27, won the women's race. While the Honolulu Marathon is unpopular with some professional runners because of the heat, this year's run saw average temperatures in the high 60s. The cool temperatures allowed both men's and women's winners to shave several seconds off their previous times. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BITS AND PIECES NOISE from nightclubs and other establishments became the business of the city's Liquor Commission last year, but the agency is still trying to work out how it will enforce regulations. One of several public hearings were held on the matter last week. The transfer of jurisdiction from the state Department of Health is ongoing, with the hiring of two more investigators and the purchase of modern monitoring equipment. The commission is considering noise surveys before granting liquor licenses, a move that worries some businesses. The transfer also clouds the ongoing debate over a proposed rooftop "beer garden" at the Hawai`i Convention Center... PRIVATIZING government services is an option Gov. Ben Cayetano said he's willing to consider, if it makes them more efficient and doesn't adversely impact employment. Last week, Cayetano said he is open to privatizing the government's airport and harbor functions. He said privatizing the construction and management of Hawaii's prisons may also be on the horizon. But he said some services, such as police and fire departments, will never be privatized. Gubernatorial hopeful Linda Lingle has been a strong advocate of privatization, but the view has earned the ire of local labor unions... FRUSTRATION and confusion was common in the wake of Bank of America's withdrawal from the Hawai`i market last week. Bank of America's 300,000 accounts and dozens of facilities were taken over by American Savings Bank. Unfortunately, American Savings also inherited a number of headaches and upset customers, caused in part by out-of-date records and late mail. Many customers were unable to access their own money, having not received their new bank cards, PIN codes or account numbers. Long lines formed at nearly every branch. American Savings said they have increased staff and operating hours to deal with the backlog... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 79/69, Kaua`i 78/67, Moloka`i 79/70, Maui 81/69, Hilo 82/69 CASTS: Sunny and fair, trades to 20MPH; North Shore surf to 5 feet. TUESDAY'S TIDES: High 5:57 p.m.; Low 1:02 p.m.

<> ----------[ K A `U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ---------------------------- "The Net of Light" ---------------------------- Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa Friday, November 14, 1997 prophet@aloha.net Vol. 3, No. 5 http://www.aloha.net/~prophet/kaupena.html ============================================================================ Subject: KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY POLES TO COME DOWN Six weeks and $420,000 into a North Shore highway project, the state announced Tuesday that it would be canceled after residents complained it would ruin the view. Concerns for safety prompted the state to initiate the highway lighting project, which called for over 280 wooden light poles along a six-mile stretch of Kamehameha Highway between Wahiawa and Haleiwa. The unlit, two-lane highway near Helemano Plantation has seen several fatal accidents in recent years. Even so, North Shore residents called the poles a major eyesore. About 120 of the poles had been put up when Gov. Ben Cayetano halted the project. State Transportation Director Kazu Hayashida announced its cancellation at a packed public meeting at Haleiwa Elementary School. "People are against it," Hayashida said. "We will halt the project right now and remove the poles." Most of the people at the meeting were glad to hear the project was canceled. Many said the vast panorama enjoyed by visitors and residents alike was badly marred by the poles. Others questioned whether lights would actually improve safety, noting that many fatal accidents result from collisions with poles, not other cars. A handful of those present were disappointed with the state's decision, however, saying drivers should be watching the road, not the view. They said people will change their minds the next time a family loses loved ones in a serious nighttime accident. State transportation officials said it will cost another $70,000 to remove the poles already installed, bringing the total cost of the revoked project to nearly half a million dollars. However, over $320,000 of the materials can be reused. Despite the cancellation, the state said measures will be taken to improve safety on Kamehameha Highway, including short reflectors or metal poles installed on the opposite side of the roadway. Hayashida assured the public, however, that more effort will be made to hear public input before anything is done. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: DRUGS, GUNS FOUND IN WAHIAWA HOME A drug raid on a Wahiawa home on Monday netted Honolulu police more than marijuana. Several guns, counterfeit money, collectible coins and sports memorabilia were among the dozens of items uncovered by law enforcement officials, who executed a search warrant on the residence after several complaints from neighbors. About a pound of marijuana, valued at over $6,000, was found, as were several marijuana plants and smaller amounts of cocaine and other drugs. However, police were more concerned about the five unregistered handguns and two rifles they discovered. Agents found over 100 counterfeit $20 bills and a computer and scanner they believe were used to make the fake bills. A Harley Davidson motorcycle, an autographed picture of Mickey Mantle, a signed Pro Bowl helmet and several boxes of sport collectibles were also found, as were extensive coin and stamp collections. Police believe the items may have been used as payment for drugs, and may have been stolen. HPD officials said they realized they had stumbled across a major operation when they found surveillance cameras outside the home. The 38-year-old woman and 40-year-old man who were renting the home were arrested, then released pending further investigation. Neither had prior felony convictions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: SAKS, FAO SCHWARTZ TO HIT HONOLULU The turn of the century will bring the groundbreaking for a new, $200 million shopping center just down the street from Ala Moana. According to plans announced this week, the center will be built where the Ward Warehouse plaza now stands, on Ala Moana Boulevard across from Fisherman's Wharf. The center will have over 150,000 square feet of retail space, and will be anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and a FAO Schwartz toy store. Heading the project are Victoria Ward, Ltd., which owns Ward Warehouse, and prominent mainland real estate firm Simon DeBartolo Group. A spokesman for Simon DeBartolo said they plan to give the shopping center a very Hawaiian feel. The center -- aimed at the high-end market -- is scheduled to open in late 2001, with Ward Warehouse stores and the farmer's market to nearby lots. The developers also said the center will bring more visitor dollars to the islands, adding that the state will be asked to help build a 5,000-stall parking structure they said will be needed to accommodate the increased traffic. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BAINUM TARGETS WAIKIKI HANDBILLS The City Council is considering a bill that would restrict people from distributing handbills on Waikiki sidewalks. The measure is being introduced by Waikiki councilman Duke Bainum, who said the handbillers create a "circus atmosphere" in the tourist mecca. Every day, dozens of people stand along Kalakaua Avenue and other busy sidewalks handing out flyers and coupons. As a result, Bainum said, there's a litter problem when tourists simply crumple the handbills and throw them to the ground. More importantly, Bainum said handbillers are a safety risk. He said there have been several near accidents when pedestrians, trying to get around crowds of people trying to get past the handbillers, step out into the street. The bill amends an existing ordinance controlling certain types of pamphlets. It would specifically prohibit handbills from being passed out within several feet of street corners, driveways, sidewalk structures and bus stops. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BITS AND PIECES BAKER and Taylor is suing the state for the recent cancellation of its $11 million book buying contract. State librarian Bart Kane had signed a five- year deal with the company to handle the selection and shipping of new books for the state library system. However, after heavy criticism from librarians over duplicate orders, bestseller shortages and late shipments, Kane canceled the contract. Baker and Taylor said it is just a political scapegoat for Kane's decision to relieve librarians of book selection duties, and that termination of the contract was improper... COUNCILWOMAN Rene Mansho, wants to change the "City and County of Honolulu" to "O`ahu County." Mansho said the new name would better reflect the island's diverse communities and would better match the names of the state's other three counties -- Kaua`i, Mau`i and Hawai`i -- which are named after islands instead of cities. Mansho acknowledged the change would mean city stationary, logos and signage would have to be changed. She wants the idea to be put to a vote in the 1998 election. Even if it makes it to the ballot, however, the proposal would also have to be approved by legislators... HAWAI`I received its first shipment of surplus food from the federal government in seven years. Over 30 tons of canned and frozen food arrived at the Hawai`i Food Bank yesterday, and will be distributed to homeless shelters. Hawai`i is one of a dozen states served by the national program, which takes food off shelves right before it expires and would otherwise be discarded. The delivery was made possible by Young Brothers, Matson and Sea- Land shipping companies, which donated their shipping services... HAWAIIAN Electric has initiated a $13 million plan to upgrade several thousand yards of underground cables downtown. Several recent short circuits have caused underground explosions that threw manholes several feet into the air, and two months ago, a major blackout crippled Honolulu. The project is expected to take over two years, but company officials said work will be done at night or over weekends to prevent traffic problems. HECO said it does not expect to pass the cost on to customers... SQUARE USA, Inc., the American subsidiary of the Japanese software company behind popular computer games like Final Fantasy, is expected to sign a three-year, $200,000 lease with the state to use its film studio at Diamond Head. The company, which recently set up its headquarters in Honolulu, plans to use the studio to produce a full-length, computer-animated movie, scheduled to be released in 2000... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 85/69, Kaua`i 83/67, Moloka`i 83/70, Maui 85/69, Hilo 85/68 CASTS: Sunny, few showers, faint trades; North Shore surf to 4 feet. MONDAY'S TIDES: High 6:20 p.m.; Low 11:20 p.m.

<> ----------[ K A `U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ---------------------------- "The Net of Light" ---------------------------- Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa Friday, November 7, 1997 prophet@aloha.net Vol. 3, No. 4 http://www.aloha.net/~prophet/kaupena.html ============================================================================ Subject: AIZAWA PRAISED, KEPT ON AS SUPERINTENDENT With a rating of "satisfactory," State Department of Education Superintendent Herman Aizawa got to keep his job through the end of his contract in April. Aizawa passed his third annual performance review on Thursday, after the Board of Education heard over an hour of public testimony, all of it in favor of allowing him to complete his term. Aizawa -- who became the first contracted school superintendent when he took the post in 1994 -- was instrumental in establishing many of the criteria on which his performance was judged. School principals, teachers and parents praised Aizawa for guiding Hawaii's schools through a series of budget cuts and for his statewide literacy program. "His perseverance has kept our department functioning admirably in spite of the budget crisis," said Pearl City High School teacher Michael Nakasone. Linda Holt, last year's state Teacher of the Year, testified through a letter read by her husband. "No other superintendent in my 27 years as a teacher in Hawai`i has had a more difficult tenure and yet kept to a commitment to support our children," Holt wrote. "Give Dr. Aizawa another four years." Some critics, including members of the state teachers' union, have described Aizawa's leadership as unfocused, and blame him for low morale among some school staff. Board members have also expressed dissatisfaction with school attendance figures and test scores. Even so, chairwoman Karen Knudsen said the board never anticipated having to terminate Aizawa at this week's meeting. While the board is expected to evaluate whether to extend Aizawa's contract early next year, Knudsen said the board is currently reconsidering whether the superintendent's position should remain on contract. Board member Kelly King said she felt a contract was unnecessary, noting many of those who testified in support of Aizawa urged the board to disregard its performance requirements. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: EWA VILLAGES INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARRESTS Eleven people have been arrested in connection with a fraud investigation involving the city's beleaguered Ewa Villages Revitalization Project. Two city employees -- city housing branch chief Michael Kahapea and fair housing official Norman Tam -- were arrested this week on bribery, money laundering and other charges. Also arrested this week were Nancy Ann Ka`aha`aina, Michael J. Barnett, Russell Williams and Kahapea's son, Jonathan Alan Kahapea. While none has been charged, Mayor Jeremy Harris said there's already enough evidence to fire Kahapea and Tam. "It's not so much that the numbers were out of line, it's that there was collusion by these two individuals to rig the numbers," he said. "We're going to be filing suit to recuperate the money, to seize their assets," Harris said. "They're going to pay the price." Police investigators believe some of the approximately $6 million spent on relocating Ewa businesses were illegally funneled to personally-backed -- even non-existent -- companies. Williams and Kaha`aha`aina led companies that received lucrative contracts to relocate businesses from Ewa. Williams' company was paid nearly $1.5 million to move six businesses, while Ka`aha`aina's received $775,000 to move four others. In the wake of the arrests, Harris has proposed shifting another $12 million in federal community development funds into the Ewa Villages project. In abandoning the original plan, the city would instead empower four non-profit groups to develop low-income housing in the area. The failed 11-year-old project was intended to provide affordable housing for Ewa residents. The City Council Budget Committee has scheduled a meeting to review the matter later this month. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: LEEWARD PARENTS WANT SCHOOL SCHEDULE RESTORED Seven years ago, Ma`ili Elementary in Wai`anae switched to a unique four-day school week. While the experiment succeeded in improving teacher retention, concerned parents now say the students are being shortchanged. At a meeting of the Wai`anae Neighborhood board earlier this week, residents urged community leaders to return the school to a traditional five-day schedule. Ma`ili Elementary students currently attend classes 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and are encouraged to participate in optional, volunteer-taught classes including hula, karate and music. Critics say the arrangement -- designed by the area School Community Based Management team -- has not improved student test scores. The school's third-grade combined SAT scores were recently ranked second worst in the state, as were its sixth-grade reading scores. Part of the problem, some said, is that the longer, eight-hour school day is incompatible with students' short attention spans. Deputy school superintendent Al Nagasaki, however, said the four-day schedule isn't necessarily to blame for the low scores. Nagasaki said the school's population has changed considerably in the past few years, and that the scores are simply evaluating a different group of students. Nagasaki said the Board of Education is working on a compromise plan that would rotate teachers to provide more reading- and math-intensive courses on Fridays. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: NAVY WIFE INDICTED IN DAUGHTER'S DEATH A 20-year-old woman was indicted Thursday in the Sept. 23 death of her 3-month-old daughter. Renee Beth Smith was charged with allegedly smothering her daughter, Shiann, when the infant wouldn't stop crying. Federal authorities are handling the case because it took place at Smith's residence on the Pearl Harbor naval base. With the murder indictment, prosecutors could seek the death penalty. Otherwise, Smith faces a possible life sentence with no possibility of parole. Prosecutors allege Smith pushed her daughter's face into a thick comforter and held it there until the infant stopped moving. U.S. Attorney Steven Alm said the decision whether to pursue the death penalty lies in the hands of Attorney General Janet Reno. A death penalty would require a jury find Smith's alleged actions were premeditated. Investigators reportedly seized Smith's diary, which prosecutors said may show Smith planned to kill her daughter. Smith, a graduate of Radford High School, is being held without bail. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BITS AND PIECES CALLED the toughest golf course in America, the Ko`olau Golf Course recently sold for $12 million -- less than a fifth of what it cost to build. The new owner, Mainland-based CCL Holdings, Ltd., put in the only bid. Another company -- reportedly prepared to spend $13 million -- had asked that the auction be delayed to allow it to enter a bid, but a judge denied the request. After spending over $80 million to build the course, the original owners foreclosed on the property several years ago... SEVEN Big Island residents were arrested earlier this week after they allegedly cemented over their water meters in protest. The seven residents of Hawaiian homestead lots in Panaewa and Keaukaha refused to pay their water bills, claiming it should be free under the Hawaiian Homes Act. A similar dispute occurred two years ago, when protesters were charged with interfering with city workers ordered to shut of water to ten homes... BAIL for a 21-year-old man charged with a violent purse-snatching incident in Waikiki was cut in half this week. Bail for Kenneth Young was originally set at $30,000 after he allegedly grabbed the purse of a Japanese tourist, dragging her and running over her with his car. He was charged with robbery and attempted murder. Defense attorneys said Young had an alibi and three out of four witnesses failed to identify him as the suspect... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 83/70, Kaua`i 80/69, Moloka`i 80/72, Maui 84/73, Hilo 84/69 CASTS: Sunny, some showers, trades to 20MPH; North Shore surf to 5 feet. MONDAY'S TIDES: High 12:38 p.m.; Low 7:11 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: LIMITED COPYRIGHT NOTICE Ka `Upena Kukui (ISSN 1089-5574) is a non-profit electronic periodical intended for personal use only. Summarized from various news sources, including independent research and interviews, television broadcasts and local newspapers; no material is directly reproduced unless cited. All original content copyright Ryan Kawailani Ozawa/Prophet Zarquon Productions. Please do not redistribute without permission. Mahalo!

<> ----------[ K A `U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ---------------------------- "The Net of Light" ---------------------------- Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa Friday, October 24, 1997 prophet@aloha.net Vol. 3, No. 3 http://www.aloha.net/~prophet/kaupena.html ============================================================================ Subject: NU`UANU GIRL SUCCUMBS TO LEUKEMIA Alana Dung, the 3-year-old girl who united thousands of people in aloha, lost her battle with leukemia last Tuesday. The girl died at her family's Nu`uanu home, four months after a bone- marrow transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Dung, who was diagnosed with leukemia last May, was at the center of a statewide search for a compatible bone marrow donor that inspired over 11,000 people in Hawai`i and several others on the Mainland to register their blood types. A compatible donor was eventually found in Taiwan, and after the transplant in Seattle, Dung was allowed to return to Hawai`i in November. Last Christmas, Dung was well enough to participate in the ceremonial coin toss at the Aloha Bowl. Dung's family said the girl's death was very sudden. Her illness returned over the summer, and she had to return to a difficult regimen of chemotherapy and other treatments. Even so, parents Stephen and Adelia Dung said they didn't know how serious her condition really was. A few days before her death, they said her doctors in Seattle began planning to come to Honolulu to check on her. In a statement, the couple thanked the people of Hawai`i for their support and prayers, describing Alana as a "courageous and spirited fighter to the end." "My heart sank when I heard," said Roy Yonoshiro, spokesman for the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry. "30,788 people signed up because of her, so she did bring a lot of good," Yonoshiro said. "This little girl brought the true meaning of aloha to Hawai`i -- I'm sure people will always remember that." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: NO SUSPECTS YET IN CEMETERY VANDALISM Six months after seven cemeteries on O`ahu were desecrated with graffiti, law enforcement officials still have no suspects. Last week, Honolulu police said there's little chance the vandals are in the islands. "If the suspects were still here, they would be behind bars," said Michael Nakamura, police chief. This past Easter was a difficult one for many families when hate messages were spray painted on monuments and gravesites at the National Memorial of the Pacific and six other O`ahu cemeteries. It took city and state crews and dozens of volunteers several weeks to clean them. Police officials say they have interviewed hundreds of people, and the FBI began analyzing the paint last month. To date, there have been no solid leads. Nakamura and several investigators now believe the vandals were not residents or tourists, but instead a group of people who were in the islands for a short period of time. No one has come forward, despite a $35,000 reward, he said. Capt. Doug Miller, who is overseeing the investigation, said someone in the know would have to turn in the vandals for a conviction to be possible. "Even with the evidence, it's not going to do it exclusively," Miller said. "Even though no one died in this case, there was a lot of pain and suffering," he said. "We want someone to answer for this." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: LOCAL MAN VISITS HOME IN ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIP After 64 days at sea, Hawai`i native Michael Bird arrived home on Wednesday. But the Big Island is just the first stop in his plan to circumnavigate the globe in a 30-foot rowboat. Upon arriving in Hilo, Bird said the plans for his stopover were simple. "Kiss my wife, kiss my daughters, kiss my mom," Bird told reporters. "Thinking about some lomilomi, some manapua and my mom's lanai on Molokai." Bird, 21, left California on Aug. 19, crossing 2,500 miles of open sea to reach Hawai`i. The last time he saw civilization, workers with United Parcel Service were on strike, he said. He was able to keep in touch with friends via e- mail thanks to an on-board computer, however. The trip is the result of seven years of planning. While in the islands, Bird said he plans to spend time with his family and visit schools on O`ahu and Moloka`i, where students were tracking his progress on the internet. He will then fly back to Malibu, California, returning to Hilo in February to resume his around-the-world trip. The former Hawai`i resident, who is also part-Hawaiian, now lives in Fort Bragg, California. Bird worked locally as a lifeguard and a bus driver to raise money to buy his boat, the "Reach." The next leg of his 27,000-mile tour will be a nine-month row to Australia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BITS AND PIECES AFTER 35 years as an island landmark, the cross at Kolekole Pass at Schofield Barracks was dismantled today. Army officials said the decision to take down the cross was purely economic, explaining that it would cost $66,000 to repair it, and hundreds more each year to properly maintain it. The cross' presence was protested by Hawai`i Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, which filed a lawsuit in September claiming it violated the First Amendment by promoting a single, specific religion... LIFE in prison was the sentence for a man who killed a tourist in 1993. Brian Luton, 29, was on probation for assault and rape when he fatally stabbed 44-year-old Joanna Larson-Hammink, a visitor from Missouri, in her Waikiki hotel room during a burglary. Circuit Court Judge Herbert Shimabukuro ordered the life term and an additional three years for first- degree burglary be served consecutively. He also recommended that Luton serve at least 10 years in prison before being eligible for parole... CHINESE President Jiang Zemin will be in Honolulu over the weekend on his way to Washington. During his one-day visit, Jiang will attend a reception at the governor's mansion on Sunday and stay the Hilton Hawaiian Village. His visit has the U.S.-China People's Friendship Association hoping to help people in China by working with Jiang on a personal level. The local Amnesty International office, however, plan to protest China's human rights record with a peaceful demonstration outside the hotel... ACCEPTING sex in lieu of back rent qualifies as sex discrimination, the Hawai`i Civil Rights Commission ruled this week. The commission said a landlord in Ewa Beach told a tenant he would waive several months of unpaid rent in exchange for sex. In finding that discrimination on the basis of sex took place, the commission has ordered the landlord to pay $7,000 and attend workshops on anti-discrimination law... MAHALO Airlines may be forced to sell its assets to pay its creditors. A federal judge is expected to decide whether the interisland carrier, which filed for bankruptcy in July and shut down operations last month, can continue to search for investors. Mahalo Airlines is reportedly $4.5 million in debt, but has only $1 million in total assets... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 84/70, Kaua`i 80/71, Moloka`i 85/73, Maui 84/72, Hilo 83/68 CASTS: Sunny, some morning showers, 25MPH trades; North Shore surf 4 feet. MONDAY'S TIDES: High -:-- p.m.; Low -:-- a.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: LIMITED COPYRIGHT NOTICE Ka `Upena Kukui (ISSN 1089-5574) is a non-profit electronic periodical intended for personal use only. Summarized from various news sources, including independent research and interviews, television broadcasts and local newspapers; no material is directly reproduced unless cited. All original content copyright Ryan Kawailani Ozawa/Prophet Zarquon Productions. Please do not redistribute without permission. Mahalo!

<> ----------[ K A `U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ---------------------------- "The Net of Light" ---------------------------- Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa Friday, October 10, 1997 prophet@aloha.net Vol. 3, No. 2 http://www.aloha.net/~prophet/kaupena.html ============================================================================ Subject: PAIR INDICTED IN IRELAND CASE Two brothers were indicted yesterday on charges of kidnapping, rape and murder in the Dana Ireland murder case. A Big Island grand jury indicted Shawn Schweitzer, 26, and his 21-year- old brother Albert Ian Schweitzer for their alleged role in the 1991 slaying. The jury took just over eight hours to reach its decision. Yesterday's proceedings were closed, and Circuit Court Judge Riki Amano issued a gag order preventing those involved in the case from speaking publicly. Prosecutors have requested bail be set at $70,000. The jury reviewed testimony from several witnesses, including Frank Pauline Jr., a third suspect who was indicted on the same charges in July. Pauline, currently serving time in Honolulu for an unrelated sexual assault, reportedly implicated the brothers in Ireland's death. Ireland, a Virginia native, was riding a bike along a road in Puna when prosecutors say she was intentionally struck by a vehicle, raped and abandoned. She was found along the roadside several hours later and died at the hospital on Christmas Day. Shawn Schweitzer was 16 at the time of the Ireland attack, but last August prosecutors were successful in their request to prosecute him as an adult. He was also indicted of sexual assault in another case yesterday, with bail set at $10,000. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: POLICE CHIEF TO STEP DOWN Honolulu Police Chief Michael Nakamura officially announced this week that he will be retiring at the end of the year. Nakamura has been with the department for 27 years, and has served as police chief for the last seven. Acknowledging concerns about his health, he assured the public that his decision to leave was only because he felt seven years was a good run. "I've had seven years of real joy," Nakamura said. "I'm not afraid to step down because I can see a lot of quality within the department." "The department will not miss a beat," he said. Nakamura suffers from a muscular condition and often walks with a cane. At a recent HPD event, a smiling Nakamura was seen traveling around on a police-blue scooter. He had first mentioned the possibility of retirement at the beginning of the year. Nakamura said he feels he will leave the department stronger than when he took the position. He said he looks forward to spending more time with his family. Nakamura, who is also a part-time instructor at Honolulu Community College, said he plans to increase the number of hours he spends teaching. In addition, he said he may do some private consulting work. The Police Commission will handle the selection of Nakamura's successor. Nakamura said there are already candidates within the department as well as nationwide. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BUSINESS GROUP PUSHES FOR TAX REDUCTIONS A coalition of two dozen business representatives this week urged the state Economic Revitalization Task Force to advocate cutting taxes across the board to revive the economy. The Taxation Working Group -- comprised of big and small business leaders as well as economic analysts -- wants Governor Ben Cayetano to cut the personal income tax by up to 6 percent, cut the corporate tax in half, and waive the state's 4 percent general excise tax in business-to-business transactions. Members said Hawaii's tax burden is nearly 25 percent higher than that of most other states, which often discourages businesses from establishing a presence in the islands. Cayetano said he agreed that tax cuts are possible in each of the areas cited by the group, but said it was unreasonable to expect reductions in all. The governor said the group's recommendations, if implemented, would take millions from the state budget and -- in the end -- taxpayers. "We must provide services to those who are needy or disadvantaged," Cayetano said. "Those are the people who always get hit." Critics of the group's proposal agree, saying it would primarily benefit the rich. The state task force said it expects to complete its report by November, which it will then present to Cayetano and state lawmakers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BITS AND PIECES FREE the University of Hawai`i of state control, a task force subcommittee proposed this week. The Role of Government subcommittee of the state Economic Revitalization Task Force said the Board of Regents should be given full authority over UH affairs. Autonomy would give UH status similar to that of the University of California, a move that the subcommittee said will help give the university a first-rate reputation among research institutions... DANIEL Kihano, former state Speaker of the House, testified on Tuesday that he borrowed money from his campaign to pay bills. Kihano faces more than 20 charges -- including money laundering and witness tampering -- for allegedly taking $30,000 from his campaign. Kihano said he always intended to return the funds, and thus listed it in his income tax returns... CLAYTON Hee, chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, resigned this week. His resignation comes after speculation that the other trustees were preparing to force him from the leadership post. At a press conference, Hee said he knew his style offended some people, but said he was driven not by looking to cause problems but rather a "profound commitment to our people..." ROLLING Stones fans were lined up in the rain early yesterday morning to buy Rolling Stones concert tickets, which went on sale today at 9 a.m. The January 23 concert is part of the group's Bridges to Babylon tour. Governor Ben Cayetano stepped in earlier this year to clear the way for the event. Prices for the 20,000 tickets range from $65 to $35... ASBESTOS has been discovered in the Municipal Building, but city officials say the material posed no threat to employees or the public. The city removed ceiling tiles from four of the 15 floors, a $43,000 effort that took place over the weekend. Officials have not yet determined whether tiles in the entire building need to be replaced... TAX revenue collections for 1997 are still behind last year's figures, state Tax Director Ray Kamikawa announced yesterday. About $273 million was collected last month, 0.7 percent less than in September 1996. General excise tax revenues, meanwhile, are down about 1.5 percent. Hotel room tax revenues, however, were up 7.7 percent... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 84/72, Kaua`i 80/71, Moloka`i 83/69, Maui 82/70, Hilo 80/69 CASTS: Showers, some heavy, 15 to 20MPH trades; North Shore surf 5 feet. MONDAY'S TIDES: High -:-- p.m.; Low -:-- a.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: LIMITED COPYRIGHT NOTICE Ka `Upena Kukui (ISSN 1089-5574) is a non-profit, electronic periodical, intended for personal use only. Summarized from various news sources (see website for full list); no material is directly reproduced unless cited. All other content copyright Ryan Kawailani Ozawa/Prophet Zarquon Productions. Please do not redistribute without permission. Mahalo!

<> ----------[ K A `U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------- "The Net of Light" ----------------------------- Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa Friday, October 3, 1997 prophet@aloha.net Vol. 3, No. 1 http://www.aloha.net/~prophet/kaupena.html ============================================================================== KIHANO TRIAL OPENS Former state House Speaker Daniel Kihano faces a 180-year prison sentence and $7 million in fines if convicted of violating campaign finance laws. His trial, which marks the first time such a case is being handled by federal rather than state prosecutors, opened Tuesday. Prosecutors believe Kihano diverted over $20,000 of his campaign funds toward purchasing annuities, then transferred the money to a personal account. Kihano is also charged with persuading a former employee to lie to the grand jury about the alleged money laundering. Kihano faces 24 charges in all, including mail and wire fraud, obstruction of justice and filing a false income tax return. The defense contends the charges are politically motivated, and that Kihano borrowed the money with the intention of returning it to his campaign. Attorney Ben Cassiday also said unnamed politicians had conspired to remove Kihano as speaker by guaranteeing him so-called "High Three" legislative pension perks. The trial is expected to last one month. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UNIONS BLAST GOVERNMENT PRIVATIZATION While Big Island officials look to the state Attorney General for guidance, a state economic task force is hoping to provide everyone with some direction in the debate over privatization. In a meeting held earlier this week, the task force heard input from both the private and public sector. Attendees discussed he ramifications of a recent state Supreme Court ruling that prohibits state and county agencies >from allowing private companies to provide services historically handled by the government. United Public Workers spokesman Gary Rodrigues said private companies who perform public duties better be prepared to be as accountable as the government when it comes to disclosing expenditures. Kaua`i economist Gary Baldwin, meanwhile, spoke in favor of privatization, as long as it saves taxpayer money in the end. Hawai`i County attorneys recently challenged the Attorney General's interpretation of the court's ruling. While the state attorney believes precedents set in each individual county should suffice in determining whether privatization would be inappropriate, the suit suggests the history of all counties should be taken into consideration for each case. Big Island leaders say they are worried counties may face lawsuits should they follow the Attorney General's less-strict interpretation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GIRL THANKS PUBLIC FOR HELPING RECOVERY After spending five weeks in a coma, 12-year-old Katie McKenzie yesterday thanked the people who sent love and support to her and her family. "I would just like to thank the people who prayed for me," McKenzie said. "This is what helps me get better." In August, the Kailua Intermediate student was walking downtown when a car jumped the curb at the corner of Bishop and King streets and struck her. She was in critical condition and soon lapsed into a coma. The driver, a Honolulu attorney, had reportedly blacked out because of prescription medication he was taking. Although he has refused further comment, he told reporters that he too was praying for McKenzie's recovery. McKenzie is expected to be transferred to Shriner's Hospital for additional rehabilitation. Her mother, Carol, said she expects her daughter to be back in school soon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: BUSINESSES WANT TAXES, GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUT Nearly 95 percent of Hawai`i businesses employ less than 20 workers, and most of them are fighting not for profit, but for survival. Those are some of the findings of a recent poll of island companies by the Hawai`i Chamber of Commerce, which is expected to present the results to its members today. According to Stanley Hong, chamber president, the top five priorities cited by Hawai`i businesses are workers compensation reform, cuts in government spending, a more efficient government, rewriting the state's general excise tax system and privatizing government services. Six of the top 10 concerns involved downsizing government and reducing government regulation. In all, local businesspeople identified 52 items they felt needed to be addressed in order to turn the economy around. Although the state economy has been in a slump for the last seven years, Hong said he is hopeful the island economy will "bottom out" soon and be well on its way to recovery by the turn of the century. The poll will also be presented to the Economic Revitalization Task Force as well as state legislators. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: BITS AND PIECES AFTER a rat scurried up Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' leg during a visit to Waikiki last week, the city has launched a $5,000 extermination campaign to rid the tourist mecca of four-legged residents. Officials say there has been a recent rat population explosion in the area, caused in part by homeless people who feed them. One of the largest colonies lives in a historic banyan tree near Kuhio Beach, but exterminators will set traps all along Kalakaua Avenue >from the Waikiki police station to the aquarium... FIFTY years after installing it, a California company this week began dismantling the Omega satellite tracking station in Haiku Valley. The outpost, built after the attack on Pearl Harbor, was taken out of service this week. Southern California Engineering, which installed the antenna in the 1960s, must use workers suspended from helicopters to take it apart, as the state rejected its proposal to use explosives. The city plans to convert the site, which overlooks Kane`ohe, into a public park... DESPITE encouraging national trends, median incomes in Hawai`i fell over 3 percent in 1996, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state's median family income fell to about $43,000, while the average American household's income rose by 2 percent to about $35,500. The number if island residents falling below the poverty line also grew, from 9 percent to 11.2 percent. Meanwhile, economists with First Hawaiian Bank reported this week that its Index of Leading Economic Indicators dropped 0.2 percent in July, after two months of increases... ROMAN Polanski, the exiled movie director that pled guilty to raping a 13- year-old girl in 1977, may be returning to the U.S. His victim, Samantha Geimer, told KITV she doesn't want to see Polaniski jailed. Geimer, now 33, lives with her husband and their three children on Kaua`i. "It's gone on for too long... I have no objection to his returning to the U.S.," Geimer said. "I am not interested in seeing him spend any more time in jail." Polanski fled to France before his sentencing, and his attorneys have been fighting for the last two decades for his return... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 85/75, Kaua`i 81/73, Moloka`i 84/71, Maui 84/70, Hilo 83/70 CASTS: Cloudy, some showers, 20MPH trades; North Shore surf 7 feet. MONDAY'S TIDES: High -:-- p.m.; Low -:-- a.m. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: LIMITED COPYRIGHT NOTICE Ka `Upena Kukui (ISSN 1089-5574) is a non-profit, electronic periodical, intended for personal use only. Summarized from various news sources (see website for full list); no material is directly reproduced unless cited. All other content copyright Ryan Kawailani Ozawa/Prophet Zarquon Productions. Please do not redistribute without permission. Mahalo!

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Wednesday, July 30, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ============================================================================= Subject: GOVERNOR CLEARS WAY FOR ROLLING STONES Sweeping away a scheduling conflict that initially had fans singing the blues, Governor Ben Cayetano announced last week that the Rolling Stones will perform in Honolulu in January. Hearing that the Rolling Stones would be in town, local concert promoters approached Aloha Stadium officials earlier this month. The request to use the stadium was rejected, however, because it was already committed to the National Football League's Pro Bowl -- and the repainting work that goes with it. The news of the missed opportunity spread swiftly among island fans. Within a matter of days, the governor stepped in. Cayetano secured the cooperation of the NFL, turning the Stones concert into a inaugural event for "Pro Bowl Week." He met with promoter Tom Moffatt and arranged private funding for the additional cost of the now-shortened stadium repair and repainti ng schedule. And he secured use of the University of Hawaii's Cooke Field for football practice while the work is being done. "The economic impact is going to be substantial," Cayetano said at a press conference. "People are going to plan their vacations here -- 'Let's go to Hawai`i and catch the Stones." He said there is more than enough time to promote the Hawai`i concert world wide. Lt. Governor Mazie Hirono said she hoped to attend the concert herself. She joined the governor in anticipating a sold-out show. Moffatt said the response to the news is among the strongest he's ever seen for a Hawai`i show, rivaling Michael Jackson's concert earlier this year. The date for the January concert has yet to be set. It will mark the first time the British rock group has played in the islands in over 25 years. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: BOOK BUYING CONTRACT BATTLE FLARES The controversy over the state's hiring of a mainland company to select and buy books for its libraries is far from over. After months of complaints from librarians and criticism from both city and state officials, the state recently terminated its 5-year, $11 million book-buying contract with Baker & Taylor. State Librarian Bart Kane is demanding nearly $2 million in damages, claiming Baker & Taylor failed to meet more than half of its obligations under the contract. Officials with the North Carolina-based company, however, claim the state's recordkeeping and reporting was a large part of the problem, and said they are considering a lawsuit of their own. Under the contract, Baker & Taylor was to handle the selection and distribution of books for all state libraries at a flat cost of $20.94. Librarians complained they were getting multiple copies of obscure, unwanted books while waiting lists for best sellers and other popular titles grew. Kane said the company committed to sending nearly 100 copies of any book deemed a best seller. Instead, the company's largest such shipment was less than half that number. To date, Baker & Taylor hasn't delivered two-thirds of the books the state has already paid for, he said. According to company spokesman Arnie Wight, however, the state was remiss in informing Baker & Taylor of what books it needed and which books were already in circulation. He said Baker & Taylor fulfilled its part of the contract, and that the company will challenge the state's termination of the contract. Wight also questioned the motive of the state's pending suit. "It has become clear that [the Hawai`i state library system] intends to make Baker & Taylor the scape goat for an unpopular political decision," Wight wrote in a statement issued this week. In addition to librarian complaints, the contract was criticized by the Hawai`i Government Employee Association. The union characterized the arrangement as illegal privitization of a traditionally public service. Kane said he hopes librarians will regain the power to select and buy books for their libraries, perhaps as soon as next month. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: OFFICERS' FAMILIES SUE OVER FATAL CRASH The families of two police officers who died in a helicopter crash are suing Police Chief Michael Nakamura, Fire Chief Anthony Lopez and the estate of the helicopter pilot who died with them. The July 1995 crash occurred during a search for a missing hiker near Sacred Falls. Officers Bryant Bayne and Tate Kahakai and fire department pilot Peter Crown were killed. The search was for 23-year-old Brigham Young University student Wade Johnson. He was never found. Bayne and Kahakai were riding in a basket suspended 50 feet below the helicopter when it slammed into the mountainside in heavy fog. The suit alleges the rescue operation was "inherently dangerous," citing the weather conditions at the time and that the officers had no way of communicating with the pilot. Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a report criticizing Crown's decision to fly despite the limited visibility created by fog and heavy rain. During the NTSB investigation, Lopez reportedly said fire department pilots ultimately decide whether or not to fly, answering earlier concerns that senior officials didn't recognize the dangers of inclement weather. The suit, filed last Tuesday, came on the last day allowable by law. Shortly after the crash, Bayne's widow Renise had told KHON that the family would not act against the department or Bayne's fellow officers. "His work was a majority of his life," she said. "He was loyal to his friends and it shows -- it shows with all the support that's been coming through from them and from everybody else." Nakamura and Lopez were named in the suit as individuals, and not in their official capacities as department heads. Three other HPD officers are also reportedly named in the suit. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: THEATER MAY FALL TO PLANNED SHOPPING CENTER Waikiki could lose yet another historic movie theater to make way for a shopping center. Developer Jack Myers recently unveiled plans for the "Waikiki Royal Walk," a $142-million retail center in the heart of the tourist mecca. Myers said he plans to demolish the Waikiki Three and break ground for the shopping center as soon as next July. The Royal Walk would occupy two acres of prime Waikiki real estate on Kalakaua Avenue, Myers said. Plans call for nearly 250,000 square feet of retail space on four floors. In addition to the theater, the center would displace a number of merchants along Duke's Lane. "I think I have one of the best locations in America," Myers said at a press conference last week. "Our reputation as a mecca for retailing is not only known here, but throughout the country and the world." Although no tenants have been secured yet, Myers said he anticipates demand for space will greatly exceed the amount available. The demolition of the Waikiki Three will leave the Cinerama Theater on South King Street as the sole remaining large, single-screen moviehouse in Honolulu. The Kapi`olani Theater was gutted earlier this year for conversion into a Blockbuster superstore. The plan would also leave the relatively new IMAX theater as the only movie screen in Waikiki. The historic Kuhio Theaters were demolished last year to make way for the King Kalakaua Plaza. Although the news has saddened some island movie buffs, Pacific Theaters -- owners of Consolidated Amusement -- said the closure of its Waikiki screens does not mean that it has written off the area. The company notes, however, that single-screen moviehouses are no longer profitable. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: BITS AND PIECES BAIL for 50-year-old Russell Cullen was revoked last week by the Hawai`i Supreme Court, which ordered him back behind bars while it considers his appeal. Cullen was convicted of murder and attempted murder last year and was sentenced to life in prison. Cu llen, who had been diagnosed with leukemia, initially won the priviledge to spend his final days with his family... MAUI will be the new home of the Hula Bowl, mayor Linda Lingle announced last week. Starting next January, The national all-star college football contest will be played at the War Memorial Stadium, which Lingle said will be renovated in order to accommoda te 20,000 fans. "We've got a new twist on 'If you buid it, they will come,'" Lingle said at a press conference. "They're coming and we've got to build it..." WRITERS WANTED! Ka `Upena Kukui seeks volunteers interested in summarizing the news of Hawai`i for the internet `ohana! Help Ka `Upena increase its frequency, diversify its coverage and enhance its color. Contribute once, daily, weekly... every tidbit wil l be appreciated by thousands of island-loving readers. Please contact Ryan at islenews@hawaii.edu for more information, including format, length and citation requirements... -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu --/--, Kaua`i --/--, Moloka`i --/--, Maui --/--, Hilo --/-- CASTS: -- MONDAY'S TIDES: High -:-- p.m.; Low -:-- a.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>-

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Sunday, May 5, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ============================================================================= Subject: FORMER BIG ISLAND SENATOR MATSUURA DIES HONOLULU (HA/KHON) -- Hilo lawmaker Richard Matsuura, described by his peers as warm but persistent, brilliant and occasionally wild, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer this week. His wife, Ruth, said he died peacefully in his sleep early Friday morning at their Big Island home in Mountain View. He was 64. "I'll miss his warmth," said fellow senator Matt Matsunaga, who visited Matsuura in Hilo earlier this month to say good-bye. "The state has lost a visionary statesman," he said. "I've lost a very good friend, a mentor and a hero." Matsuura entered state politics as a representative in 1980, serving four years there before moving to the senate. During his 16 years in the legislature, he played a key role in a number of controversial measures. In 1993, he spearheaded an investigation into favoritism in the state's procurement system. The investigation prompted the resignation of a cabinet member of then-Governor John Waihee's administration and eventually led to new regulations on how the state purchases goods and services. Gov. Ben Cayetano characterized Matsuura as a dreamer who was still grounded enough to lead the fight for good, clean government. "I think his work on the procurement code was a major contribution," Cayetano said. "Prior to that time, the procurement process could be easily abused." The Waialua-born senator did not shy from controversy. His support of geothermal energy on the Big Island often put him at odds with environmental groups. Matsuura is also remembered by colleagues as the mind behind some of the more unusual proposals for boosting the state economy. Friends said Matsuura once invited senate colleagues to a luncheon featuring dishes prepared with unagi -- saltwater eel -- to promote his notion of raising them in Hawai`i for export. Cayetano also said some of Matsuura's ideas were unorthodox. "I remember one time he was very big on promoting Spam in Japan," Cayetano said. "We would kid him about that because he had this vision of Spam musubi being sold at baseball games." "I would listen to him and I'd chuckle -- I thought some of his ideas were unrealistic," he said. "Other times he was a man of vision... he had some great ideas." Ann Kobayashi, a friend and former senator, said: "At times his ideas could be termed wild. But I think we will remember him for his go-get-'em attitude and his persistence to get legislation through. "I think his greatest contribution was his dog-like and samurai-like approach to fighting for good government." Before state politics, Matsuura was a teacher and a missionary, and also wrote children's books and dabbled extensively in agriculture. Matsuura was diagnosed with cancer late last year. He made his last appearance in the legislature during opening ceremonies in January and resigned soon after. He is survived by his wife, six children and 14 grandchildren. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: LEGISLATURE CLINCHES NO-FAULT IN OVERTIME HONOLULU (KHON/KITV) -- Having extended the current session to resolve the long-standing debate over no-fault auto insurance reform, state lawmakers eventually passed a bill they say will reduce insurance premiums by up to 35 percent. However, opponents said the bill may lead to an increase in cost for some residents, and insurance industry leaders are already promising to appeal the measure. The bill requires insurance companies to reduce the cost of their insurance premiums by 20 to 35 percent. To compensate, it makes some currently mandatory types of coverage optional. It also allows greater leeway for lawsuits in auto accidents, but will also include a mandatory award deduction to discourage superfluous filings. The bill passed by a wide margin in the state House, but barely squeaked through the Senate in a 13-12 vote. It is slated to take effect next January. The state's no-fault insurance system had been under fire for several years, with Hawai`i residents paying some of the highest premiums in the country. During several hearings, insurance company representatives testified the bill would provide only minimal savings, mostly to those who carry the minimum required coverage. They said other drivers may see premiums go up. "Our pricing does show a 13% decrease for people who take just the mandatory minimum limits," conceded Caroline Fujioka, spokesperson for State Farm Insurance. "But it is easy to see that there is going to be an increase in lawsuits," she said. "Lawsuits are very expensive and those costs will drive the costs up for all of us." Sen. Malama Solomon agreed. "We should call this 'the attorney's bill,' because it takes care of lawyers," Solomon said. "Why don't we rename this bill 'The Lawyer Employment Act'?" Many state officials, however, remained confident about the measure's projected savings. "If our state actuary and our state insurance commissioner say rates will be rolled back, then I think we can be confident that the rates will be rolled back," said Rep. Ron Menor, who chairs the House Consumer Protection Committee. Sen. Randy Iwase said reform was long overdue, and said he was frustrated most by the constant bickering over numbers. "I am sick and tired of all of this shibai -- all of this nonsense," he said. "Who is suffering? The consumer. Who is suffering? Mom and dad." Sen. Roz Baker said the extensive debate over the issue could be seen as a sign of success. "Perhaps the fact that neither side loves this measure is testament to the balance that it struck," she said. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: CITY CONVICTION FEE CHALLENGED HONOLULU (KHON) -- The attorney of a man convicted of kidnapping and murder challenged the city's mandatory $250 fee, which was enacted to offset the cost of processing and prosecuting cases. On Friday, defense attorney Earle Partington told Circuit Court Judge Wendell Huddy that the fee steps into the jurisdiction of the courts and may be illegal. "This ordinance infringes on the court's power to impose restitution," Partington said. "Defendants cannot pay restitution if the city is forcing them to pay." Partington filed the challenge on behalf of Garreth Graham, recently sentenced to life in prison for the death of Ming Li Chang during a failed extortion attempt. City officials eventually agreed to drop the fee in Graham's case, but said they will continue to collect it from others. The fee is imposed on anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony. However, Huddy said the implications of the challenge reach farther than Graham's case. During the hearing, Huddy said the ordinance may make it difficult four courts to render proper judgments. He said it may also violate the state penal code, noting that power to impose fees usually falls under the state legislature -- not the City Council. Currently, Huddy said, the ordinance is not so much a service fee as it is an involuntary tax. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: ARSONIST'S FIRE CLOSES CAMPUS EATERIES By William Matsuda, Ka `Upena Staff Writer HONOLULU (KL/KITV) -- Honolulu police and fire investigators suspect arson in a fire that consumed much of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa's Campus Center eateries last Monday. At present, police do not have any suspects in the 4:05 a.m. fire. Last Friday, police issued a CrimeStoppers bulletin to enlist the public's aid in locating the perpetrator. Investigators said they believe the fire was set by someone familiar with the building. Damage to the dining facilities, which are operated by Marriott Educational Services, is estimated at $1.5 million. In addition to the Kahea `Ai Cafeteria, the Campus Center housed Pizza Hut and Taco Bell franchises. Marriott officials expect to be able to reopen Pizza Hut and Taco Bell as early as the middle of July, however, the earliest the cafeteria will reopen is next September. Honolulu Police Detective Steve Whiting, lead investigator in the case, said the fire was set in three places -- a dishwasher and dry storage area, both of which are on the second floor, and a refuse bin located on the first floor. "It looks very similar to other fires we had where spite or revenge may have been the motives," he said. "Somebody had a grudge against the university or the cafeteria." He said the accelerant used to start the fire has yet to be identified. "The lab will not be finished with their work for another week and a half," he said. Ralph Nakamoto, university food service director, said Marriott's facilities in the Campus Center did not have motion detectors or burglar alarms. Nakamoto said most of the sixty Marriott employees were reassigned to other facilities on campus. However, about a dozen part-time employees have been laid off until the Campus Center eateries reopen. Captain Donald Dawson of UH Campus Security said his officers are stepping up security at Marriott's other outlets on campus. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: BITS AND PIECES TEEN pregnancy rates in Hawai`i are among the highest in the nation, according to a national survey released this week. The islands saw over 130 pregnancies per 1,000 teenage girls in 1992, placing it fourth highest. The national average was 112 pregnancies per 1,000 teens. The District of Columbia topped the list with 277 pregnancies, followed by California at 159 and Nevada at 149 per 1,000 teens. The figures are from the federal 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. The survey coincides with the launch of a campaign to battle rising teen pregnancy rates... AFTER a month-long test drive, an experimental surveillance camera system installed on a street corner in Chinatown was taken down this week. The camera was on loan to the city so it could test how effective cameras would be in fighting crime. In its first day of use, it caught a drug deal and spotted a man wanted by police who was quickly apprehended. City officials now hope to invest in a $500 thousand system that will have 20 cameras in Chinatown and another eight in Waikiki operating by September... THREE'S company in the Hawai`i movie market. California-based Signature Theaters will inaugurate its arrival in the islands this month with a 12- screen complex in Pearl City. The complex, slated to open May 23 at the Pearl Highlands Center, will be anchored by a 500-seat first-run theater with a 46- foot screen, the Associated Press reported. Signature Theaters will be vying for the movie buff's dollar against Consolidated Amusement Corp. and Wallace Theater Group, which together operate over 100 screens across the state... WRITERS WANTED! Ka `Upena Kukui seeks volunteers interested in summarizing the news of Hawai`i for the internet `ohana! Help Ka `Upena increase its frequency, diversify its coverage and enhance its color. Contribute once, daily, weekly... every tidbit will be appreciated by thousands of island- loving readers. Please contact Ryan at islenews@hawaii.edu for more information, including format, length and citation requirements... -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 81/72, Kaua`i 79/70, Moloka`i 83/69, Maui 84/70, Hilo 81/69 CASTS: Mosty sunny, isolated showers, 20MPH trades; North Shore surf 5 feet. MONDAY'S TIDES: High 3:38 p.m.; Low 8:45 a.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>-

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Sunday, April 27, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ============================================================================= Subject: SEVEN CEMETERIES DESECRATED, FEDS CALLED IN HONOLULU (KHON/SB) -- Dozens of grave sites and monuments at seven O`ahu graveyards were marred with racial slurs and other angry messages last weekend, in an act of vandalism that has both shocked and galvanized people from `Aiea to Virginia. The red spray-painted messages appeared overnight at several cemeteries, including the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Damage there has been conservatively estimated at $25,000. The FBI immediately opened an investigation. The vandals identified themselves as "Psychos Against Racism in Hawai`i," and the messages included attacks on the Honolulu Police Department and native Hawaiians. Since HPD was mentioned in several messages, police officials are now combing their files to find possible suspects. Because of the groups targeted by the vandals, FBI officials are looking into ties to the Mainland. They said other possible leads include the local military community and militia groups. Investigators said they are likely looking for several suspects, judging by some of the initial clues. They noted the presence of different sets of tire tracks and point to inconsistent spelling and writing styles. Fingerprints have been found in the paint in at least one graveyard, and police say at least one red or gray import car was spotted in at least two cemeteries that night. In addition, the FBI has received reports that messages similar to those scrawled on the graves were posted to the internet. The messages, reportedly posted to widely-accessible USENET discussion groups, include claims of racism against Caucasians by Hawaiians and the police department. Authorities are also considering whether it was a copycat crime. On the same night the vandalism occurred, the USA Network aired a program highlighting the desecration of cemeteries on the Mainland. Honolulu police have stepped up patrols in the neighborhoods surrounding the cemeteries, and are trying to determine the brand and source of the spray paint used. Meanwhile, the FBI has enlisted the aid of their crime lab in Virginia to assemble a psychological profile of the suspects. Families of those buried in the cemeteries are still trying to come to terms with what happened. "When they erase all this, you still will never erase the scars of somebody coming here and spray painting all over your family members' grave," said one O`ahu woman. "It hurts," said Puka Asing, a Papakolea resident who came to place flowers at a Punchbowl grave. Asing said of all places, a Hawai`i graveyard is proof that racism can be overcome. "The Hawaiian spirit of aloha extends to any color, creed or race -- anybody," he said. "I urge you out there -- the people who have done this -- to come to our place; come here, come clean up." "Maybe you can repent," he said. Volunteers and other supporters have flooded in to aid in the cleanup effort. Since the attack damaged several old, sensitive surfaces, however, it will be a daunting task. Families were initially asked not to use their own cleaners to remove the spray paint. Park officials have since found solvents that can safely clean the spray painted headstones. Punchbowl was the hardest hit, with spray paint marring 22 walls -- at least one each of the six different types of surfaces used at the cemetery. "The columbarium has both bronze and brass and concrete and marble, all attached," said director Gene Castagnetti. "We may have to dismantle it and clean it on a piece by piece basis." Despite the amount of work that lies ahead, however, Castagnetti said the vandalism has also highlighted the generous side of people. "It shows the American public won't let lawlessness take over in this community," he said. "We have risen to this occasion -- the cemetery will again be a beautiful, dignified national shrine." "I am very proud of my staff and the community," Castagnetti said. The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a Washington, D.C.-based group, has vowed to help pay for the cost of the cleanup effort, as has Bank of Hawai`i. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: DEADLINE LOOMS OVER LEGISLATURE; SOME BILLS IN LIMBO HONOLULU (AP/KHON) -- State lawmakers are looking at going into overtime on several controversial bills, as resolution continues to elude them despite intensive negotiations this week. The current legislative session ends on Tuesday. As in 1996, conference committee members remain at odds over proposed reforms to the state's no-fault automobile insurance system, and are expected to hold emergency meetings this weekend. Lawmakers also have yet to settle on the state's strategy for battling prostitution. While senators want to toughen first-offense penalties, state representatives want to go a step further -- a mandatory month-long prison term with no option for appeal. A recent ruling by the state Supreme Court concerning private contracts for government work has also proven to be a challenge for the Legislature. The ruling, stemming from a dispute over the operation of a Big Island landfill, said private contractors could not be hired to perform work traditionally reserved for civil service workers. The senate wants to block future lawsuits for one year while state and county officials work to review and rework existing contracts. The House, meanwhile, wants to revise existing civil service laws to allow private contracts if they don't take work from government employees. However, House and Senate leaders did agree on several bills this week, most of which are expected to pass before the Tuesday deadline. They include: * Meghan's Law -- This bill, modeled after several passed on the Mainland, allows law enforcement officials to release the names and addresses of child molesters and other sex offenders to the public. * Date Rape Drug -- Possession of certain "date rape" drugs -- including gamma hydroxybuterate, reportedly the most used such drug in the islands -- would be a crime under this bill. However, the ban excludes the more well- known drug Rohypnol, as well as Ephedrine, which is used to manufacture methamphetamines. * Teen Crimes -- This bill would allow defendants as young as 14 to be tried as adults. Currently, Family Court can only waive its jurisdiction over minors age 16 and up. * Teen Driving -- One bill would allow the state to suspend the driver's license of anyone under age 21 who has a 0.02 percent blood alcohol level, a limit more stringent than the 0.08 level that defines DUI for adults. A second measure would require new drivers to wait three months after getting driving permits before being allowed to test for their license. * Pickup Truck Passengers -- This bill would place a statewide ban on allowing children 12 years of age and under from riding in the back of a pickup, effective next year. Violators would be fined $50. * Campaign Spending -- A legal loophole allows candidates to exceed campaign contribution limits by claiming them as "loans." This bill would limit loans to $10,000, and required they be repaid within a year. * Murder -- This bill, drafted to clarify the law after recent court rulings, defines "conspiracy to commit murder" and "solicitation to commit murder" as offenses equal to committing murder. * Gas Stations -- This bill would establish protected zones around existing, independent and locally-operated gas stations to keep oil company- owned stations from coming in and putting them out of business with artificially low prices. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: BITS AND PIECES QUARANTINE reform proposals continue to move closer to reality. Officials are looking to shorten the state's 85-year-old animal quarantine requirement from four months to 30 days. The measure, which was rejected by Gov. Ben Cayetano earlier this year over concerns about the safety of rabies tests, is now on its way back to the governor's desk with revisions requiring blood tests be performed at a Mainland laboratory. Even if Cayetano approves the revision, authorities say it could take up to five months before incoming pet owners can take advantage of the shorter quarantine stay. Instead of the current extended quarantine, the new arrangement would require several tests and microchip identification measures... DESPITE threats of protest and strong opposition from environmental groups, a bill to fund a fruit irradiation facility on the Big Island received finance committee approval last week before the Hawai`i County Council. The $2 million facility would use gamma irradiation to sterilize fruit flies, thus allowing Hawai`i fruit growers to ship their products to the Mainland. After a full day of heated testimony, the committee voted 6-1 to issue a construction bond for the project. The plan has strong support from Big Island Mayor Steve Yamashiro, who criticized the project's opponents -- many mobilized by a Vermont-based group -- as "eco-terrorists..." THOUSANDS of curious and eager islanders are flocking to the mall to get in on the latest craze in Japan. Perhaps fated to be the "pet rock" of the '90s, "Tamagotchi" -- which roughly translates to "egg game" -- is an electronic toy in which one hatches a tiny chick and raises it to adulthood. The process takes about ten days. Owners must "feed" it when it peeps and "scoop" when it poops, or face the untimely demise of their virtual pet. Even after it grows into adulthood, the LCD creature's eventual death is unavoidable. The egg- sized trinket is now available at Liberty House at a price of about $20... -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 83/72, Kaua`i 80/68, Moloka`i 81/70, Maui 83/72, Hilo 81/70 CASTS: Mostly sunny, trades to 25MPH; North Shore surf to 6 feet. MONDAY'S TIDES: High -:-- a.m.; Low -:-- p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>-

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Tuesday, April 8, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ============================================================================= Subject: TEACHER ACQUITTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT HONOLULU (SB/HA) -- There'll still be hugs in store for students of Ryan Sueoka... if he returns to the classroom. After half an hour of deliberation, a jury acquitted the 43-year-old Kainalu Elementary teacher of five counts of third-degree sexual assault. A brother and sister, ages 13 and 11, had accused Sueoka of molesting them in separate incidents in 1994 and 1996. Prosecuting attorney Thalia Murphy said she was disappointed with the jury's decision, and said she had hoped the case would set precedents for defining acceptable physical contact in schools. During the two-day trial, the boy testified that Sueoka had fondled him once two years ago, and again in 1996. That same year, the girl testified, Sueoka had touched her breast and butt. Sueoka said he has never initiated sexual contact with any student, and said while he often patted and touched students, he did it only as a gesture of support and encouragement. Howard Luke, Sueoka's attorney, said the inconsistencies between the children's testimony and their initial comments to police investigators was a major factor in the ruling. Murphy said, however, that children are rarely able to tell stories exactly the same way several times. "They're not robots," she said. In addition, Murphy said her case was hurt because parents of other students taught by Sueoka refused to cooperate. Sueoka, flanked by dozens of supporters, said the ordeal was one of the toughest challenges he ever faced. Even so, he said, he felt teachers should always be affectionate and supportive toward their students. "You can't tell teachers to not be themselves," he said. In light of the case, however, Sueoka said he would devote more thought to who to be affectionate with and how. In today's cautious school environment, teachers need to be more conscious, he said. Angie Naka, a retired teacher and former coworker, said Sueoka was one of the warmest teachers at Kainalu Elementary. Part of the problem, she said, was because families from the Mainland aren't as comfortable with affection as island families. "These people from the mainland, they don't know what hugging is," Naka said. "It means, 'You did fine, we're happy for you.'" Sueoka, who is currently on paid administrative leave, said he hasn't yet decided whether he'll teach again. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: DRUG USE AMONG ISLE YOUTH UP HONOLULU (KHON/SB) -- One out of ten students in Hawai`i have tried either alcohol or tobacco by the fourth grade, according to a study released this week by the state Department of Health. The survey, conducted last year, found twice as many sixth-graders reported using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs compared to 1993. The survey also revealed Hawai`i youth have the highest reported rate of using crystal methamphetamine, or ice. The study polled 15,000 students in grades 4, 6, 10 and 12. Overall, substance abuse has increased in the last three years, echoing national trends, department officials said. Drug and alcohol use among Hawaii's high school seniors was found to be below average. Forty-six percent of 12th graders reported some form of substance abuse, compared to the national average of 50 percent. Hawai`i fourth graders, however, lead their mainland peers -- 30 percent compared to the 26 percent U.S. average. In fact, the study found, first time drug and alcohol users are getting younger and younger. The largest increases in drug and alcohol use was observed in the sixth and eighth grade. Based on the frequency and degree of use reported by students, as many as 8,400 are in need of drug or alcohol treatment, the study states. Nearly two dozen island high schools already have treatment programs. The study also found positive peer pressure to be a strong deterrent against substance abuse. Most students said their friends would disapprove of their drinking or using drugs. The results demonstrate the need for early intervention, department officials said. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: STATE REPS TACKLE WELFARE, OTHER ISSUES HONOLULU (KITV) -- Republicans in the state House today led an impassioned drive to bolster the beleaguered welfare system. After some heated moments on the House floor, representatives approved a bill that would remove the two-year limit on general assistance for disabled recipients. Republican members also called for an amendment that would add another $8 million to the program's budget. "It's a way to be kind to those who are the weakest and the poorest among us," said Rep. Gene Ward. "Quite frankly it is the right thing to do." "I've worked with people on general assistance," said Rep. Cynthia Thielen, recalling her days as a Legal Aid attorney. "It is cruel -- absolutely cruel to take away funding for that program." "Get rid of those P.R. people -- put the money where it's needed folks," Thielen said. Thielen comments caused a stir among Democratic lawmakers, which escalated to a partisan debate. At one point, House Speaker Joe Souki threatened to throw Ward off the floor. After order was restored, the budget increase amendment was voted down by the Democratic majority. A second amendment, calling for the restoration of the state tax credit for those paying long-term health care costs for elderly family members -- was also killed. Other bills tackled by the House today included a "Truth in Sentencing" bill that would require certain felons to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. The measure was passed by the House. Representatives also approved a bill that would give counties the right to ban passengers from riding in the bed of pickup trucks. Another bill that would give tax breaks to island cabaret establishments was killed. Souki said granting special tax relief to a specific class of business was unfair, and possibly unconstitutional. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: CITY MAY PULL OUT OF EWA VILLAGES HONOLULU (KHON) -- A $63 million debt and a persistently sluggish housing market is prompting some officials to push for the city's withdrawal from its Ewa Villages revitalization project. The city has stopped building, as the low- to moderate-income housing units aren't selling. "We are determined to get out of the development business," said Managing Director Bob Fishman. "One of the big options that we'll consider is turning the whole thing over to the private sector," he said. "Then the economy will drive the timetable of developing that housing." The city is considering selling its 280 lots at $90,000 each -- considerably cheaper than the market price. Fishman said the city is looking to sell them in bulk to developers, with no to obligation develop them. Another plan would sell all partially developed lots by the end of the year, then setting up a nonprofit agency to make the rest available on a rent-to-own basis -- giving priority to Ewa Village residents. Meanwhile, instead of paying to renovate dilapidated structures, Fishman said the city may leave it up to the resident. "We are about to contemplate a change of policy where we'll allow the individuals in the homes to purchase them at a discount so they can improve them as they see fit," he said. The unrehabilitated homes would sell for $75,000, Fishman said. Fishman said the plan is part of a larger move to change the focus of the city's housing policy, away from one in which competes with the private sector. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: BITS AND PIECES BYRON Acohido, a Wahiawa native and Damien High School graduate, has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism. Acohido, a reporter for the Seattle Times, was honored for a series of investigative pieces he did on the safety problems of Boeing 737 airplanes. Acohido edited his high school paper before graduating in 1973. The Pulitzer committee also honored Elyse Tanouye -- a Waipahu High School graduate and business editor -- and her Wall Street Journal colleagues for their reports on the development of AIDS drugs... GEORGE Parker, who was subdued with foam and wooden bullets after an eight- hour downtown standoff with police more than a month ago, has been ordered to stand trial. Parker disappeared moments after he was convicted in federal court for money laundering and obstruction of justice, and was found hours later in a narrow alley nearby. Parker's attorney pushed for him to be released pending his sentencing, but federal prosecutors successfully convinced District Court Judge David Ezra to keep him in custody... -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 82/69, Kaua`i 80/68, Moloka`i 83/71, Maui 82/70, Hilo 80/68 CASTS: Mostly sunny, trades to 15MPH; North Shore surf to 8 feet. WEDNESDAY'S TIDES: High -:-- a.m.; Low -:-- p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>-

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Wednesday, April 2, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ============================================================================= http://hawaii.base.org/kaupena.html islenews@hawaii.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: STATE MAY SELL DIAMOND HEAD STUDIO HONOLULU (KHON/KITV) -- State lawmakers are looking for ways to squeeze more money out of Hawaii's fledgling film industry. The Hawai`i Film Studio, renovated three years ago at a cost of $10 million, has collected only $182,000 in rent. Although filmmakers utilizing the Diamond Head facility are also credited with bringing $6 million in tax revenue into the state, Gov. Ben Cayetano said it isn't enough. Less than a week before the bill approval deadline, the state Senate yesterday introduced two measures aimed at boosting island movie making. One proposes tax incentives to lure filmmakers to Hawai`i. The other would have the state sell the studio to a private company. Senate President Norman Mizuguchi said the state should at least work to recover its investment in the studio. "It's underutilized, and we spent 10 million dollars of state taxpayer dollars to build it," Mizuguchi said. "We need to offer the film studio as an incentive to build a film industry in the state of Hawai`i." Some state officials, however, aren't sure an outright sale is the best solution. Rick Egged, spokesman for the state Department of Business and Economic Development, said he has no doubt the studio could turn a profit -- whether operated by the state or a private company. "However, being able to generate any kind of return that will enable anybody to repay the state for the its original investment in the studio will be problematic," he said. Currently, there are three productions making use of the film studio, including the new Hawai`i Five-O pilot. While most filming is being done outside the facility, studio officials said the rent is enough to ensure they will break even this year. Egged said the state should consider leasing the studio instead, allowing a private company to operate it for a set period of time. Part of the problem, he said, is that the state has not done the best job of promoting the studio to Mainland filmmakers. "We are not marketing the industry right," said Sen. Joe Tanaka, adding that Hollywood producer and actor Michael Douglas once said he didn't even know the facility existed. "He said the industry where he comes from doesn't even know about it," Tanaka said. Tanaka also cited a state-sponsored advertisement recently placed in film trade magazines, which claimed Hawai`i was the best option because other "tropical locations" were wrought with bad water, snakes, rabies, political corruption and incomprehensible languages. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE GROUPS CONVERGE ON CAPITOL HONOLULU (SB/KHON) -- While lawmakers raced to reach a compromise on the same-sex marriage issue, dozens of citizens and lobbyists roamed the hallways of the state Capitol today, hoping to have their voices heard. Same-sex marriage opponents held a silent vigil in the offices of the four senators on the conference committee struggling to reach a compromise between House and Senate bills. Organizers of the vigil said as many as 100 people participated. While security at the Capitol was beefed up, the silent protest remained peaceful. Legislative staff accepted comments and letters, and one senator even put out some cookies. "Marriage was promoted by our heavenly father," Honolulu resident Caroline Sorenson said. "I know there are many people who don't look at it that way, but it is, and that's my belief." The in-office vigils are scheduled to continue tomorrow. Meanwhile, a coalition of religious leaders who support same-sex marriage were also on hand. "Gay people are also human beings," Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani said. "They are entitled to many of the things that heterosexual people have and don't even question." "These people are being left out," he said. Yesterday, House leaders offered to reword its bill calling for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Representatives also agreed to offer five marital benefits to unmarried -- and therein same-sex -- couples. Meanwhile, the Senate is willing to restrict marriage, but only if it does not violate the civil rights of homosexuals. Senators also contend that nearly all benefits should be made equally available to both opposite- and same-sex couples. Lawmakers were unable to reach a compromise today, and will likely have to wait until next week before negotiations can resume. The committee has until April 11 to submit a joint bill to the governor for approval. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: PILOT OF DOWNED PLANE WASN'T SCHEDULED TO FLY HONOLULU (KHON/KITV) -- As divers work to retrieve what's left of a single-engine plane that crashed in waters of Mokule`ia yesterday, company officials confirmed the pilot wasn't originally scheduled to fly. In fact, the pilot was supposed to be Chris Smith, brother of UH football player Shannon Smith who drowned on Kaua`i on Saturday. Chris Smith was a pilot for SkyDive Hawai`i, but took the day off to spend the day with his family following his brother's death. The plane crashed shortly after noon on Tuesday during its fourth skydiving flight. All five passengers survived, and only one required overnight hospitalization. Company officials said pilot John Tucker reported no problems during the previous outings. The Federal Aviation Administration is weeks from determining the cause of the crash. Officials confirmed today, however, that Tucker was in the process of appealing a FAA citation he received last year. Tucker was cited for allegedly allowing skydivers to dive through cloud cover, which is prohibited by FAA regulations. In addition, Tucker had apparently stopped flying for the company four months ago. Yesterday was his first day back on the job. Nevertheless, company spokesman Torsten Werner said he had the utmost confidence in Tucker's piloting ability. "John Tucker is a very experienced pilot and has around 7,000 flight hours," Werner said. "He's been flying for us for two years." "He did a very good job," he said. FAA officials have reportedly discounted weather as a factor in the crash. Werner said it is possible the plain developed engine or steering problems. Werner said he was frustrated because the FAA didn't allow wreckage recovery efforts to begin until today. "From what I saw yesterday, the airplane was in one piece and sitting in shallow water," he said. "If we pulled it out yesterday fast, maybe we could replace this and this, or use it for parts." "Now the waves are pounding this airplane and it's just totally trashed out," Werner said. The plane's wings were discovered on the beach this morning, and were brought to SkyDive Hawaii's hangar at Dillingham Airfield where the other recovered wreckage is being stored. The plane cost about $40,000, he added. Although the company still has four other planes, two of them -- the same model as the one that went down -- have been grounded until the cause of the crash has been determined. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: YOUTH CARJACKING CASE MAY GO TO FEDERAL COURT HONOLULU (KITV) -- Five youths believed to be members of a youth gang may be the first in the state to be charged under a federal statute that calls for stiffer penalties for carjacking. The youths -- four 14 years old and one age 16 -- are allegedly members of the local gang "Homocyde." If convicted under the 1992 statute, they could be held in a Mainland federal prison until age 21. State law only allows juveniles to be held until they're 19. FBI officials began rounding up the suspects last week after the case was brought to them by Honolulu police. City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said a conviction in federal court would send a resounding message to juvenile lawbreakers. "They see their future in crime as being unhindered by any real consequences," Carlisle said. "Confronting that (with federal charges) suddenly turns their little world topsy-turvy," he said. "They realize they're actually going to have something happen to them for the stuff they're doing." The case stems from a Jan. 31 carjacking in which a driver was flagged down on Waikele Access Road. Police believe the youths pulled a knife and forced the driver to take them to the Waipahu Sugar Mill. There, police said, the driver was beaten with wood and rocks. He was then forced to drive some more until he was finally ejected from the vehicle near the Kunia reservoir. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the carjacking statute toughens sentences for car theft across the board. If an adult is convicted under its provisions, he faces from 15 to 25 years in prison. Also, if the crime results in death, prosecutors could request the death penalty. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 80/71, Kaua`i 78/68, Moloka`i 82/72, Maui 84/72, Hilo 84/71 CASTS: Mostly sunny, trades to 20MPH; North Shore surf to 10 feet. THURSDAY'S TIDES: High 1:48 p.m.; Low 7:15 p.m.

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Wednesday, April 1, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ============================================================================= Subject: FIVE SURVIVE PLANE CRASH OFF MOKULE`IA HONOLULU (KHON) -- A skydiving plane crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff today, but only one of five passengers aboard was seriously injured. The single-engine Cessna -- operated by Skydive Hawai`i -- went down in waters off Mokule`ia at about noon. The plane had left Dillingham Airfield only minutes before. Torsten Werner, Skydive Hawai`i spokesman, said the pilot knew there was a problem the minute the plane took off. "They made a left turn directly after take off," Werner said. "I believe they hit one or two trees before landing in the water." Marie Beltran, who saw the plane strike the trees, said the plane started to release plumes of black smoke before disappearing out of sight. "When he turned, all we heard was 'boom,'" Beltran said. "We all ran across the street and the plane was already in the water." Two instructors, two Japanese tourists and pilot John Tucker were aboard. When the plane splashed down, some people who were surfing in the area swam up to help. "We went to the three worse guys, got them on our boards and started paddling them in," said Casey Teixeira, one of the rescuers. "One guy paddled in on his parachute pack because it's floatable," Teixeira said. "The other guy could swim in pretty much by himself, but he was cut pretty bad on his head and stuff." All five passengers were out of the water before city and state rescue crews arrived on the scene. The passengers were taken to Queen's Medical Center and Wahiawa General Hospital. Four have since been treated and released; the fifth remains in guarded condition tonight. The Federal Aviation Administration has already started an investigation. Although the pilot's seat has been retrieved, the FAA is currently trying to determine whether the plane can be lifted from its current resting place under 15 feet of water. Company officials speculate the plane hit an unexpected down draft, and that Tucker tried unsuccessfully to pull out of it. However, FAA investigator Mike Robertson said he doubts the weather was a factor in the crash. "It was not windy; it was not bumpy; there was no turbulence and it was clear," Robertson said. "It was clear enough for them to jump." Meanwhile, Skydive Hawai`i kept its doors open despite the crash, now managing with only four planes. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: UH ATHLETE DROWNS ON KAUA`I KEALIA, Hawai`i (SB/KL) -- A swimming trip on Kaua`i turned tragic on Saturday, when Shannon Smith, a member of the University of Hawai`i football team, drowned while trying to rescue his coach's son. Smith, a Kapa`a, Kaua`i native, led a hike to the remote Waipahe`e waterfall known as at Slippery Slides for several teammates, UH football coach Fred vonAppen and his family. After Smith slid down the waterfall with vonAppen's 6-year-old son Cody, strong currents in the pool below started pulled them under, police said. Smith struggled to hold Cody above water while vonAppen's wife, Thea, jumped in to help. As she struggled, vonAppen jumped in as well. "He jumped in and immediately knew we were all fighting for our lives," Thea vonAppen said. "We just kept going under and fighting our way back to the surface." "Shannon and I kept handing Cody off -- back and forth to each other," she said. Thea vonAppen managed to pass Cody to quarterback Tim Carey, who brought the boy to safety. In those short moments, however, Smith had disappeared. Teammates were about to jump in the water to look for him, but vonAppen said it was too dangerous. "We started concentrating on Cody and forgot about Shannon because we figured everybody could get out on their own," said defensive back Chris Shinnick. "I was the last person to see Shannon go under for the final time," he said. "It was too late -- there was nothing we could do at that point." Smith's body was found 90 minutes later. vonAppen, still distraught over Smith's death yesterday, credited him and quarterback Tim Carey with saving his son's life. "That young man was a hero," Kaua`i police Sgt. Cecil Baliaris said. "He gave up his life to save that little boy." Smith died three days before his 21st birthday. Memorial services are scheduled for April 9. The start of Spring Training was also postponed for a day in honor of Smith, who was considered one of the most promising place-kickers on the team. "I think now how Shannon was so full of life -- he loved to sky dive, to kayak," Thea vonAppen said. "He was always right out in front." Smith is survived by parents Rosemary and Norbert, four brothers and three sisters. A scholarship fund has also been set up in his name. Donations can be sent to the Shannon Smith Scholarship Fund, 1337 Lower Campus Road, Honolulu, 96822-2370. Editor's Note: A segment on Smith's sacrifice will be broadcast Thursday, April 3, on "Inside Edition," a nationally-syndicated television newsmagazine. Interviews with the vonAppens will be featured. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: ATTORNEY TO SERVE PRISON TIME FOR FATAL ACCIDENT HONOLULU (KITV) -- Attorney Thomas Foley was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for a 1995 car crash that killed a father of three. A practicing Honolulu lawyer for 20 years, Foley was described by friends as a man who had everything. However, that included a drinking problem, they said. Foley had already been arrested for DUI twice -- once in 1986 and once in 1990 -- before the fatal accident. On Jan. 4, 1995, Foley's speeding BMW slammed into a Buick stopped at the intersection of King Street and University Avenue. Prosecutors said Foley's vehicle was going as fast as 70 miles per hour. Ho Pin Tsai was killed in the crash. His wife suffered a concussion. Foley's blood alcohol level was found to be three times the legal limit. Initially, Foley had hoped to perform a year of community service to avoid jail time. Prosecutors said such a sentence could be perceived as special treatment, however, citing Foley's two prior DUI arrests. Foley said he is now fighting his alcoholism, and is becoming a new man. Also, Tsai's family beseeched Circuit Court Judge Wilfred Watanabe, asking that Foley not be sent to prison. However, Watanabe said he could not afford leniency. "Anything less would depreciate the seriousness of the offense in light of the defendant's past track traffic record," Watanabe said. In court today, Foley said he accepted Watanabe's decision. "Drinking and driving does not mix," he said. "It's something I regret with every ounce of my being." "I'm humbled by the support of the victim's family and I hope when I get out of prison I can contribute back to the community," he added. Prosecuting Attorney Chris Van Marter said he was satisfied with the judge's decision. "No one is a winner in a drunk driving case -- everyone loses," he said. "We think the court's sentence sends a strong message to the community," Marter said. "If you drink and drive and kill someone you are going to jail, just like Mr. Foley." Foley's sentence begins April 14. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: LAWMAKERS INCH FORWARD ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE HONOLULU (KHON/KITV) -- With the end of the legislative session looming near, members of both the state House and Senate made some progress today in the stalemate over same-sex marriage. "We have a time deadline," Rep. Terrance Tom said. "I don't think anyone wants to extend the session." Senate leaders have said they are willing to consider a House-backed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages, provided equal benefits are provided to homosexual couples. Today, Tom presented a reworded version of the proposed constitutional ban, and also agreed to a Senate provision that would add health insurance to the short list of four benefits the House is willing to make available to unmarried couples. The Senate then asked for a day or two to consider the new proposals, which prompted accusations of stalling from members of the House. "We in no way are stalling or holding these measures hostage," Sen. Avery Chumbley replied. "We have received your proposals. We would like to study them." Meanwhile, Attorney Dan Foley, who represented three homosexual couples that sued the state for the right to marry, said the amended constitutional amendment bill proposed by the House is better than the original one. "It is all style and no substance -- it is no different," he said. "It still gives the power to the Legislature to define marriage, the parties to marriage and the rights and benefits of marriage." As the legislative debate continues, a number of rallies and vigils are planned at the state Capitol this week. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 80/72, Kaua`i 79/70, Moloka`i 80/73, Maui 80/70, Hilo 79/69 CASTS: Mostly sunny, trades to 20MPH; All shore surf flat to 1 foot. WEDNESDAY'S TIDES: High 12:48 p.m.; Low 6:11 p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: COPYRIGHT AND SOURCES CITED Ka `Upena Kukui (ISSN 1089-5574) is a non-profit, electronic periodical, intended for personal use only. Summarized from various news sources. All original material copyright Ryan Kawailani Ozawa/Prophet Zarquon Productions. Please obtain permission from author before redistributing. Mahalo! SB The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership) Subscribe: (808) 538-6397 Website: http://starbulletin.com/ KL Ka Leo O Hawai`i (Board of Publications/University of Hawai`i) Subscribe: (808) 956-7043 Website: http://www.hawaii.edu/bop/ KHON Broadcast Channel 2, Honolulu (Savoy/Fox) Office: (808) 591-2222 Website: http://www.khon.com/ KITV Broadcast Channel 4, Honolulu (Argyle Television, Inc.) Office: (808) 593-4444 Website: http://www.kitv.com/ ============================================================================= This report is part of The Hawai`i NewsList family of internet features. It and a number of other Hawai`i-related items can be delivered directly to your e-mail address. Send a subscription request to listproc@hawaii.edu, with the text "SUBSCRIBE HI-NEWS-L Firstname Lastname" in the body of the message.

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Tuesday, February 11, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summarized from various island news sources, including independent interviews and research, radio and television broadcasts and local papers. No material is duplicated directly unless otherwise attributed. Intended for personal use only -- please obtain permission from author before redistributing. Aloha! ============================================================================= Subject: TEACHERS COMB STATE'S LEDGERS Public school teachers met with Gov. Ben Cayetano and state Budget Director Earl Anzai tonight to pore over the state's financial records, hunting for funds to cover a pay raise the state says it can't afford. "The governor said, 'Whatever information you need, you can have,'" said Charles Toguchi, Cayetano's chief of staff. The meeting comes eight days before Hawaii's 13,000 school teachers may walk off the job, after working two years without a contract. The state has offered two 4 percent pay raises over the next two years, but the proposed contract does not include any increases for the last two years. The proposed contract would also lengthen the school year by ten days. The Hawai`i State Teachers Association rejected the offer, saying it isn't enough. The union wants two 7 percent salary increases retroactive to 1995, plus two 7 percent increases for 1997 and 1998. After tonight's meeting, Anzai said the state has proven yet again that it cannot afford the raise demanded by the teachers union. "I'm going to sing the same old song -- the numbers don't lie," Anzai said. "Unless they're going to go back and say the auditors screwed up, the numbers are all the same." HSTA President June Motokawa said they have now asked to see records dating back to the administration of former Gov. John Waihee. "We are asking for more information and we're going to get it." Motokawa told KHON-TV2. "I know that the governor has said he would like to give all the unions the same numbers," she said. "We believe our teachers and education is quite important, and we're going to see if we can get a little bit more for our teachers." If the state and the union cannot reach an agreement, public school teachers will go on strike at 5 a.m. on Feb. 20. Earlier today, several Leeward O`ahu school teachers attended strike training sessions. Educators heard from police on lawful picketing practices, and learned how to convince reluctant teachers to join the strike. Strike captains were selected and brief, and teachers also staged a practice picket. "We want to make sure we do things the right way," HSTA spokeswoman Joan Lewis told KITV. "I am only here to educate the kids," said Campbell High School teacher Barbara Goodwin. "But if we have to try and close our schools down to get a settlement, that's what we're going to do." Another meeting between union and state negotiators, has been scheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, formal arguments from both sides will be submitted to the Hawai`i Labor Relations Board tomorrow for review. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: LIBRARY BOOK BUYER GETS WARNING Baker and Taylor, the North Carolina-based company hired to buy the books for Hawaii's 49 public libraries, has been given 90 days to address a number of problems that have arisen since the state contracted its services last year. In addition, the state Board of Education today called for the release of $100,000 -- or about $2,000 per library -- to buy Hawaiiana and other special interest books. "There are serious deficiencies in Baker & Taylor's performance since July 19, 1996," boardmember Karen Knudsen said today. "The state librarian will be sending a letter to Baker & Taylor identifying nine areas that need specific improvement immediately." The company's five-year, $11.2 million contract with the state has come under fire after librarians complained about losing the ability to choose which titles are ordered and receiving duplicate and unwanted books. Months after the first complaints were lodged, some librarians said the company has made a few improvements. Librarian Caroline Spencer told the board that Baker & Taylor has now made it easier for library staff to look up which titles were received by other libraries. "They seem to be listening to our concerns and they seem to be willing to make changes," Spencer said. Knudsen also said recent criticism of state Librarian Bart Kane was misdirected, noting that Baker & Taylor was hired through the state's bid process, not selected by Kane. The board will also consider establishing a review committee to monitor the books distributed by Baker & Taylor, she said. "We are concerned about our employees and our professional librarians," Knudsen said. "We will be working with them to try and bring us together." "It has been a difficult past several months," he said. Meanwhile, a proposed bill that would exclude private agencies from book buying contracts will go before a public hearing Thursday night at McKinley High School. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: THREE WAIPAHU MEN INDICTED IN DRUG CASE Federal authorities believe they've broken a multi-million dollar drug trafficking ring that transported hundreds of pounds of crystal methamphetamine between California and Hawai`i. A federal grand jury indicted 14 people on felony drug charges earlier this month, six of them arrested in the islands. The arrests come after a fire destroyed an ice lab in Bakersfield, Calif., late last year. "Following the investigation of that laboratory, the agencies were able to develop information regarding what we believe to be an extensive crystal methamphetamine trafficking organization between Bakersfield and Honolulu," said U.S. Attorney William Shipley. Last Friday, law enforcement officials raided the Kalihi apartment of 27-year-old Arlene Domingo, who was arrested in California along with 26- year-old Jeffrey Aleho, 26-year-old Cesar Mendez and 29-year-old Rodney Mendoza. Federal agents also raided a computer business in Kaka`ako, which they believe operated as a front for money laundering. "This organization was well entrenched," said DEA spokesman Sidney Hayakawa. "They had everything from chemists -- the lab operator -- to the couriers here, and they distributed all of the ice here in Hawai`i." In Hawai`i, officers arrested 29-year-old Ferdinand Corcino, 28-year-old Thomas Torres, 29-year-old Richard Maldanado, 28-year-old Rodel Calumpit, 28- year-old Absalon Amondo, Jr. and 26-year-old Michael Kewewehi. Federal officials are still looking for four others indicted by the grand jury, two of whom are believed to be in the Philippines. Hayakawa said three of the 14 individuals indicted once attended Waipahu High School together. If convicted, the 13 men and one woman face life in prison and $4 million in fines. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: BOY TESTIFIES IN MOTHER'S MURDER An 8-year-old boy took the stand in Circuit Court today, describing how he found his mother fatally shot in their Kinau Street apartment last year. Eugene Barrett, 65, is on trial for murdering his 41-year-old neighbor, Roxanne Kastner, on Aug. 11, 1995. Although Barrett has been convicted twice before for murder, the judge has ruled the jury will not hear of his past record. Kastner's son, who was 7 at the time, told the court he was playing outside when he heard gunshots. "I saw her lying on the floor," Ethan Kastner said. "I kneeled and she was dead with blood." He said he saw Barrett leave the apartment holding a gun, later identified as a .25-caliber semiautomatic. Barrett's attorney yesterday told the jury his client admits to shooting Kastner. "The big issue in this case is what happened that led up to this tragedy," defense attorney David Hayakawa said. "What emotions and feelings were going on inside of Eugene Barrett that resulted in this happening?" The defense contends that Kastner had sex with Barrett two months before the shooting, but started to sexually tease him over the subsequent weeks. Hayakawa said Barrett saw Kastner bring home other men, and heard everything they did in her apartment. Claiming Barrett was under severe emotional distress at the time, Hayakawa wants the charge reduced to manslaughter. The prosecution, however, said Barrett killed Kastner because she refused to have sex with him. Prosecuting attorney Susan Won is calling for a second-degree murder conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. "This defendant, Eugene Barrett, chose to get revenge because Roxanne had earlier rejected him," Won said. A few weeks before the shooting, Barrett checked himself into a hospital after he threatened Kastner's life, Hayakawa said yesterday. He said the system was partly to blame for Barrett's actions, as doctors failed to retain him and that police failed to follow up on the case. Won disagreed, saying Barrett checked out on his own recognizance and was not suffering from any mental strain. Barrett was convicted of murder in 1959 for murdering his girlfriend. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison and served 8 of them. In 1972, he received a 10-year sentence for manslaughter in the stabbing death of his ex wife. He served 3 years for that offense. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: KA `UPENA ALMANAC TEMPS: O`ahu 81/71, Kaua`i 80/69, Moloka`i 81/72, Maui 83/71, Hilo 82/69 CASTS: Mostly sunny, trades to 15MPH; North Shore surf to 15 feet. WEDNESDAY'S TIDES: High 7:38 a.m.; Low 2:15 p.m.

<> ----------[ K A ` U P E N A K U K U I ]---------- <> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Net of Light Wednesday, February 5, 1997 Hawai`i News -- Internet Edition By Ryan Kawailani Ozawa ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summarized from various island news sources, including independent interviews and research, radio and television broadcasts and local papers. No material is duplicated directly unless otherwise attributed. Intended for personal use only -- please obtain permission from author before redistributing. Aloha! ============================================================================= Subject: HOUSE ADVANCES MANDATORY RATE REDUCTION Three House committees today advanced a bill that would force island auto insurance companies to slash their premiums by at least 25 percent. The measure calls for a mandatory 25 to 35 percent rate reduction on basic insurance policies, which are required by state law. Offsetting the rate reduction is a proposed $5,000 deductible, which requires that the first $5,000 of any award won in a lawsuit goes to the insurance company. House Consumer Protection Committee Chairman said the bill would reduce costs and discourage frivolous lawsuits. Nu`uanu Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa said the rate reduction might not be worth the tradeoff. "It's a big concern," Kawananakoa told KGMB. "The public needs to understand that while we may be bringing savings to their premium costs, they're not getting the same coverage because of the very large deductible." In addition, state officials said health insurance costs may rise by about 3 percent if the bill becomes law. Insurance industry officials said the plan will ultimately backfire. ""We don't believe there's going to be significant savings off this bill," State Farm Insurance spokesman Rick Tsujimura told KITV. "In fact, if you talk to other industry leaders, they'll confirm our position and that is there will be an increase for working families." In all, 32 state representatives voted in favor of the bill, which will return for its second hearing before the full House within the next week. The state Senate, meanwhile, is working on its own version of a bill aimed at lowering insurance costs in Hawai`i. -----------------------------------------------------------------------==:]>- Subject: MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM EYES ISLAND ENGAGEMENT If "they" will come, Honolulu may host three Major League series games in April, KHNL reported today. Representatives of the San Diego Padres are in town this week, gauging the island market and inspecting Aloha Stadium to det