Newswatch
Kalai Niheu and her son demonstrate outside the gates of
Washington Place yesterday in support of the "Makua 16" who
defied evictions at Makua Beach last month.
Photo by Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
About 50 supporters cheered as the five women and eight men refused to enter pleas to the charges, many calling themselves citizens of the Kingdom of Hawaii who are immune from prosecution by the state.
Waianae District Judge Bruce Ames entered not guilty pleas on behalf of the defendants.
Many said they were angry to learn today that the charges had been reduced from obstructing government to simple trespassing, even though they face a maximum $500 fine if convicted, instead of up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
A trial date has not been set.
Nearly half the state's adult residents lead sedentary lives, according to the Department of Health.
What's more, one-fifth of Hawaii adults fail to carve out any time for physical activity - be it gardening, walking the dog or parking the car a few extra blocks from work.
The figures were released yesterday with a stinging report on the physical state of the nation by acting U.S. Surgeon General Audrey F. Manley.
Although Hawaii fared better than the national average, local health officials said more should be expected in a state that boasts year-round sun and surf.
Andrea Renaud, hospital administrative secretary, said at a meeting of the Koolauloa Neighborhood Board Thursday night that services were restored in mid-April.
She said full 24-hour anesthesia service for such eventualities as cesarean deliveries, curtailed earlier because of funding difficulties, has been restored.
A special board meeting Feb. 15 on the shutdown of the obstetrics program, spurred by high costs, was attended by some 350 residents, many angry over the shutdown.
The cause is under investigation.
Ten firefighting units, including the Honolulu Fire Department hazardous materials team, responded to the 9:37 p.m. alarm at 86-348 Puhawai Road off Lualualei Homestead Road and stayed overnight.
Today, seven units remained to ensure the fire did not spread to nearby homes. Small explosions overnight kept firefighters at bay.
Residents were asked to leave because officials did not know what was buried beneath the mounds of rubbish.
The junkyard was piled with old tires, refrigerators, abandoned cars and tanker trucks that were being dismantled, officials said. It is unknown what the tanker trucks had carried.
"The combination apparently was written somewhere and they found it in the office," said Detective Mark Victor, who is investigating the June 30 burglary. "The safe wasn't tampered with."
The stolen checks were all stamped for deposit, Victor said.
Police recovered fingerprints at the scene.
The telephone and computer lines to the building were cut near a utility pole, deactivating the alarm system.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
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