Newswatch
At a state Capitol news conference yesterday, Daniel McGivern said a House bill backed by medical associations would allow a legally designated surrogate to decide to withdraw medication, nutrition and water from people who were incapacitated and did not leave instructions on their care.
"No one should have the right to say that another person dies," said McGivern, who is running newspaper advertisements today.
But the head of the House Health Committee noted that references to withholding artificial nutrition and hydration were deleted from H.B. 631 H.D.1 before the panel passed it.
The bill also specifies that a surrogate cannot order physician-assisted suicide, said Rep. Alexander Santiago (D, Schofield Barracks-Kahuku).
Santiago said the measure's intent is to clarify procedures for health-care decisions where, for instance, surgery or more intensive procedures might be needed. Life-or-death issues were not included, partly because a blue-ribbon commission on death and dignity is expected to issue its report this session, he said.
McGivern, though, called the deletion "subterfuge" and contended withdrawal of life-support systems still would be allowed since it is not specifically prohibited.
The bigger message, however, was directed at the man not at the meeting in Kalihi yesterday: Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, Cayetano's potential challenger.
Although Harris has repeatedly stated he is not thinking about running for governor, rumors have persisted.
Yesterday's audience was made up primarily of Filipino-American leaders. They said they were there to endorse Cayetano, not criticize Harris, who has also relied heavily on Filipino votes during his two elections.
But a news release written by attorney Tess Bayudan said the leaders are "united in their support of Gov. Benjamin Cayetano" amid rumors that Harris may resign to oppose him next year.
"A resignation to run for the office of governor would only mean that he is a very ambitious, opportunistic person," the release said. "Filipino leaders do not believe a person with that type of character is deserving of their support."
It seems library system administrators are saying they can't catalog too many new books at once.
"Due to cataloging concerns, 80 percent of your expenditures must be for materials that are already in the database," the memo said.
That means roughly $32,000 of the $158,000 can be spent on new books not already in the system.
The money for the emergency purchases came from $100,000 released last week by the governor and $58,000 from Hawaiian Electric Co.'s energy-saving shower head program.
Park Superintendent Francis I. Kuailani said park rangers and state Department of Land and Natural Resources officers removed several structures and a substantial volume of property and debris.
Kuailani said the cleanup was necessary to return the site to its intended cultural and natural landscape for visitors, and to ensure safety.
While the park will reopen for public use, fires and overnight camping will be prohibited.
The public is also asked to respect the cultural resources, including the heiau and the walls of the fish trap, which are on the five-acre property that the Pai family had occupied.
A 67-year-old Leilehua Road resident heard an explosion outside his home at 3 a.m.
He went outside, found the rear of his car on fire and put out the blaze. He was not injured.
Police said the fire appeared to have been started with a Molotov cocktail. Police have no suspects.