Shoppers are bracing for an increase of about 30 cents per gallon of milk. Consumers brace
for milk price hike"It's terrible," said Janey Lindbo of Kaimuki at Star Markets in Moiliili. "I think the price of groceries and everything else, it's already high. It's just added to the high cost of living in Hawaii. On the mainland, everything is so much cheaper, right?"
Sharon Mols of Palolo said her family drinks a lot of milk. "I'm not too happy."
Asked about milk producers' arguments that they're going broke, Mols replied: "We're all going broke. We're all struggling."
Although Meadow Gold and Foremost dairies started paying milk producers an additional $4 per 100 pounds of milk yesterday, the expected 30-cent a gallon or more increase at retail outlets hadn't kicked in as of last night.
But Foremost confirmed it expects retail prices to go up at least 30 cents a gallon.
"We are really just assessing the situation right now, and actually we are concerned about the local milk industry," said Ron Sugai, Meadow Gold spokesman. "Our No. 1 concern is the consumers."
Gov. Ben Cayetano and the four county mayors are off to Japan this week in an effort to drum up business investments in Hawaii as well as more visitors to the islands. Gov, mayors drum up
business in JapanCayetano arrives in Tokyo tomorrowafternoon for two days of meetings planned with government, business and travel industry officials as part of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau's promotion of the islands. The HVCB is paying for the trip.
Plans call for visits to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.
Cayetano will focus on meetings with officials of businesses which have or plan to have substantial investments in the islands. There also will be several news conferences.
The governor is scheduled to return on Saturday in time to watch the San Diego Padres face the St. Louis Cardinals in Hawaii's first-ever major league baseball game, his office said.
The second unity gathering of Hawaiians will be held this weekend at Kualoa Regional Park. Hawaiian unity gathering
to be held this weekendRegistration and campsite arrangements will begin at 10 a.m. Friday.
Participants are requested to make a $2 donation to cover the costs of the event.
More than 500 participants attended the first "hoomalu" held at Kualoa in February.
Coordinator Kinau Kamalii said topics to be discussed this weekend include gathering rights associated with the hula, Office of Hawaiian Affairs revenue entitlements, and a Hawaiian convention.
During the February gathering, Kamalii said, agreement was reached on subjects involving Hawaiian traditional and customary rights, land claims, trusts, entitlements, sovereignty and self-
determination, cultural retrieval, identity, integrity and Hawaiian wellness.
For information, call 941-4946.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffA 41-year-old man accused of beating and robbing another man in Chinatown Saturday has been charged. Man held on $50,000 bail
for Chinatown beatingOliver Haanio Jr., of Maili, was being held on $50,000 bail, police said.
The victim, 44, of Kalihi, was taken to Queen's Hospital after he was found unconscious on River Street.
He suffered a broken jaw and other injuries, police said.
