Newswatch
Eight measures are before the committee, with proposals ranging from a constitutional amendment barring gay and lesbian couples from marrying, to one that would create domestic partnerships and grant them some of the same benefits as heterosexual married couples.
Proponents of same-gender marriage say they oppose any of the suggested amendments, and favor the domestic partnership bill, though noting it would exclude federal benefits and not be recognized if a Hawaii couple move to another state.
"Whether you call it domestic partnership, reciprocal beneficiaries or pizza for two, it's still second-class citizenship," said Tracey Bennett, a lobbyist for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, in testimony submitted to the committee for its hearing in the state Capitol auditorium.
On the other hand, the Hawaii Catholic Conference supports proposed amendments limiting marriage to a man and a woman, and is against domestic partnerships and other bills that would grant benefits to same-sex couples and "establish a category which is parallel to marital status in all but name."
"He joined the rest of the wounded healers," said the Rev. Dr. Gerald Gifford at yesterday's memorial service for Du Teil at St. Andrew's Cathedral.
Gifford was referring to Du Teil's success in overcoming depression and alcoholism, then utilizing what he learned to help the down and out through his street ministry with the Institute for Human Services.
"He was a teacher, preacher and student" who was always learning, Gifford said.
Episcopal priest Du Teil, 76, died Jan. 22 in a Texas nursing home from complications related to Parkinson's disease.
Utility officials would not release information about the pending deal with Kauai Power Partners, saying full details would be provided when a contract is signed this month.
But Kauai Electric vice president Denny Polosky said its arrangement with the independent power producer will help the utility maintain diversity among its power suppliers, which is especially crucial in light of sugar's uncertain future.
Kauai plantations now generate about 70,000 megawatt hours of energy per year for Kauai Electric through bagasse-burning and hydroelectric plants, supplying about 17 percent of the utility's total of 406,000 megawatt hours of energy, Polosky said.
The man, who suffered head injuries and a fractured thigh, was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:12 p.m.
Speed on the victim's part was a possible factor, police traffic investigator Sgt. David Talon said.
The motorcycle was traveling west on Hawaii Kai Drive and collided with the car after crossing the center line while making a right turn.
A 44-year-old Hawaii Kai woman driving the car was uninjured.
In the first 33 days of this year, Oahu has recorded seven traffic fatalities.
That compares with six over the same period in 1996.
The man may have been involved in an attempted robbery later.
No one was hurt in the 9:35 p.m. holdup.
He flashed a silver revolver, took one employee's purse and emptied the cash register. He was wearing black clothing and a black ski mask.
The same suspect may have shown up later at Dillingham Shopping Plaza at 1505 Dillingham Blvd. At 12:01 a.m., a woman, 26, had just made a deposit at Rent-a-Center there, when a man dressed in black and in a Halloween mask approached her car as she was leaving.
Other police/fire news:
- Suspect hunted after attack on girlfriend
- Pearl City woman falls into stream, drowns
- Cab driver robbed
- Car stolen, driver beaten and robbed