Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, July 9, 1996

Kim, a critic of the authority, charged acting Executive Director Howard Takara with "nonfeasance" for keeping the $250,000 report dated October 1995 from the City Council and the agency board. The report includes charges that Handi-Van operator Laidlaw Transit Services (formerly Mayflower Transit services):

• Either owed the city an estimated $200,000 in fares or inflated its ridership figures by up to 15 percent in 1993 and 1994.

• Allowed as much as 14 percent of riders who don't meet qualifications to use the Handi-Van. "If this is so, at least 14 percent of the operating cost of the Handi-Van service, or approximately $1.2 million per year, is being spent to provide service to ineligible people," the report said.

Helicopter pilot Atsushi Ohara is warmed by paramedic Patty Dukes as Kiyoshi Matsunaga, another victim, reflects on the mishap from shore.
Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

That's the assessment from Rei Okada, owner of Cosmo Flying School, on the cause of yesterday's collision that sent the Hughes 500-D helicopter into the ocean about a half-mile off Kahala Beach. The damaged airplane landed safely at Honolulu Airport.

None of the four people aboard the helicopter or the three on the Mooney 201 plane were injured. But the water rescue of the four copter occupants provided some drama yesterday afternoon.

FAA Pacific Representative Thomas Rea said today the agency has begun an investigation into the cause of the accident.

It was the first time David Arakawa, Peter Carlisle and Randal Yoshida appeared together before a live audience.

With the exception of the death penalty - which only Carlisle opposes - differences were tough to spot. But there were a few.

All three favored giving judges less discretion in sentencing violent and repeat offenders, but Yoshida said he supports mandatory state sentencing guidelines for all crimes.

Arakawa warned against a "cookie-cutter" approach to sentencing, saying judges should be allowed to consider the facts of a case and the criminal background of the defendant for nonviolent crimes.

Because juveniles are now most prone to crime, Carlisle said he would lobby for a "three-strikes-and-you're-an-adult" law.

Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

An adult Rottweiler was brought in yesterday to be euthanized for biting a child, said Becky Rhoades, director of shelter operations at the Hawaiian Humane Society. "They took action to make sure this dog doesn't do it again."

Mililani firefighters responded at 11:21 a.m. yesterday when the boy's aunt, who was baby-sitting, reported the family dog had the boy's head in his mouth at the Paikauhale Street home.

The boy suffered head injuries, punctures and bruises to his face and head, said Mililani Fire Capt. George Ku.

Robert Wright and Maxim Chandonnet, both 18, were charged with seven counts of burglary and two counts of criminal property damage. They were arrested Friday after police searched a Harbor Lights condominium. Taken in the school break-in were $700 for a field trip and 58 interisland airline coupons.

Chandonnet was released on $8,100 bail. Wright was being held on $8,200 bail.