Newswatch
Esther Ahina said she was excited because "this is where Hawaiians will say what they have to say - where everybody is together under the same roof."
She has four daughters and nine grandchildren, and "that's what makes me come here today."
"I want to hear and see what everybody has to say. Everybody's entitled to their opinion."
Many opinions are expected to be expressed as about 1,000 Hawaiians met to discuss whether a successor to the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council should continue its work or seek an alternative toward self-determination.
The council has spent $2.15 million the past four years toward a goal of Hawaiian independence. Continuation of that work would cost an estimated $8.3 million.
A number of protest groups were expected.
The board's action Friday makes Hawaii one of only two states with such a plan. California is the other.
The plans allow them to obtain assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay for recovery of areas damaged by storms, as Makaha, Haleiwa and Waianae were last month.
Sterling Yong, the state land department dam safety engineer who developed the plan, said if the recommendations are carried out effectively, "over time, we should see a decline in the amount of property damage and loss of life during heavy floods."
Under military law, Antle will be eligible for parole after 10 years.
Antle, the first of four Marines to be tried for the execution-style murder of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Juan Guerrero in a remote area along Nuuanu Pali Drive, pleaded guilty to the murder charge Thursday. The commanding general of Marine Corps Base Hawaii decided against charging Antle with a capital offense, eliminating the possibility of the death penalty.
Antle also received a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction of rank to private, the lowest enlisted rank.