By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Lanikai Beach, ranked last year as the nation's best beach,
may fall victim to erosion from seawalls, warns the Maryland
coastal geologist who puts out the annual list.
Fame, not erosion, is responsible for Lanikai Beach's disappearance from this year's ranking of the nation's best beaches by a University of Maryland coastal geologist. Erosion threatens Lanikai
Beach, expert says
But Stephen Leatherman fears Lanikai Beach may disappear for good in the future because of erosion.No. 1 on his best-beach list last year, Lanikai has been retired as a "national winner" to give other beaches a chance, he said in a telephone interview.
He keeps national winners out of the running for 10 years.
"It's still a great beach," he said.
"It has fantastic water and a vista of two offshore islands."
But he said he's concerned that Lanikai's beach won't make it back into the ratings when it's eligible.
He reiterated warnings he expressed last year about homeowners' seawalls "squeezing the beach out of existence."
HOWELL 'CHINKY' MAHOE JR.:
Indicted on five counts of third-degree sexual
assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault.
Award-winning kumu hula Howell "Chinky" Mahoe Jr. has been charged with sexually fondling four young boys over a two-year period. Veteran kumu hula Mahoe
charged with fondling boysAn Oahu grand jury indicted Mahoe yesterday on five counts of third-degree sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault.
The indictment alleges that Mahoe, 42, fondled the boys -- age 9 through 14, who are members of his Halau Hula O Kawaili'ula -- between 1994 and 1996. Each count of the indictment alleges that Mahoe fondled each boy on separate occasions over an extended period, ranging from a couple of months to more than a year. One boy turned 14 during the period, which led to the lesser fourth-degree sexual assault charge.
Third-degree sexual assault, which is a felony, carries a maximum five-year prison sentence, while fourth degree sexual assault, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum one-year term.
Mahoe, based in Kailua, is a veteran kumu hula and is well-known in the hula world.
The male members of Halau Hula O Kawaili'ula have won the prestigious Merrie Monarch overall crown two years running, and his halau have long been top finishers in the Big Island hula competition.
Bail for Mahoe, who had not been taken into custody as of last night, was set at $25,250. Deputy Prosecutor Darrell Wong said a bench warrant for Mahoe's arrest could be issued as early as today.
Calls to Mahoe's home yesterday and this morning went unreturned.
Mayor Stephen Yamashiro is sticking to his interpretation that Hawaii County is not required to operate the Kona landfill, despite a final judgment to the contrary from the state Supreme Court. Court says Big Isle
must run landfillThe judgment, released yesterday, sends the landfill case back to the Circuit Court with instructions to come up with a plan for transferring the landfill operations from a private company to the county.
Yamashiro said practical concerns include asking the Hawaii County Council to authorize money to run the landfill.
"If the Council says go ahead and buy it, then I'll go ahead and buy it," he said.
Meanwhile, citing the Big Island landfill ruling, the United Public Workers union wants the state to terminate a contract between the state and a private company operating the pharmacy at the Hawaii State Hospital on Oahu.
In a Circuit Court lawsuit filed yesterday, the union claims privatization of the pharmacy in 1995 violates state law, and alleges that the state's contract with Interstate Pharmacy Corp. is invalid.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffHILO--Police have arrested an 18-year-old man in the stabbing death of retired businessman Gordon Granger. Hilo robbery suspect
arrested in homicideThe suspect, who has no permanent address, was arrested yesterday but not immediately charged.
He had been arrested Wednesday for a robbery that took place on Banyan Drive, Hilo's hotel district, on May 13. Granger's body was found in his home on May 15. Police are investigating whether the suspect is responsible for additional crimes.
Granger had a practice of taking homeless people and others in need into his home, his friends said. Police said the suspect and Granger were acquainted before Granger's death.
In the May 13 incident, a young couple were sitting in their car on Banyan Drive when a man approached and robbed them at gunpoint.
After the couple turned over their wallet and purse, the suspect fired several shots, striking the car twice, then ran away.
The robber fired several more shots as the couple tried to pursue the man in their car, but lost him.
Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:
- Child injured in auto accident
- Kayakers assisted back to Kailua shore
- Police identify Big Isle man found shot to death
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.
