HAWAII is a coveted vacation destination because it conveys an idyllic mirage -- one of hula hips, mai tais and "aloooooooha!" Technically, we have all these things and more. Realistically, though, Eden is in trouble. Kealoha should serve
his full sentenceThe locals know it. That's one way to tell the tourists from the residents; people who live here don't smile as much.
There's always something to start an ulcer: unemployment, the high cost of living, the low priority of public education, and incidents of random, violent and often drug-induced crime.
Such is the screwy misbalance of what we call "progress." Communication is possible at all hours by fax, e-mail and cellular, but don't even consider walking alone at 3 o'clock in the morning -- even in the small town of Wahiawa -- for fear of being beaten to death.
The streets of paradise seem harmless but maybe they're not. Folks don't really know unless they have all the facts, like volumes of HPD precinct reports and even those aren't comprehensive.
Which brings us to the sad saga of 18-year-old Gabriel Kealoha. Sentenced to the youth slammer until he reaches his 19th birthday in February, he was denied early release this week for the manslaughter death of off-duty HPD Sgt. Arthur Miller.
Why can't Kealoha be sprung now, some interested observers gripe, so the nice-looking young man can take part in a UH program later this month?
They say Miller was at least partly to blame in October '96, when the two got into a public shoving match culminating with the cop's fatal fall from a freeway overpass.
In letters to the editor, these omniscient onlookers say Kealoha doesn't deserve to stay behind bars for the duration of the year.
However, unless they sat in on his entire trial or read Kealoha's legal files or are acquainted with the day-to-day history of his existence, an obvious question pops up.
It's a query made famous by Academy Award-winning actress Frances McDormand in the black comedy, "Fargo." Are y' sure?
The trick is we can't be sure. Since the recent graduate of Kamehameha Schools was tried in Family Court, we don't and probably won't ever know the explicit details because his privacy as a juvenile is protected.
Does Gabe have a mean temper? Has he tried to assault others before? Dunno, dunno.
There are some public servants, however, who do know these answers. One of them is city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who felt so strongly about Kealoha's guilt that he handled the case personally.
Two others are Bert Matsuoka, executive director of the Office of Youth Services, and John Shinkawa, youth corrections facility administrator. They both say that, despite a diagnostic team's recommendation that Kealoha be let go early, he should not be prematurely released.
HIS family is incensed. "They can't believe that (these) men have that much power over their son," Kealoha's attorney, Hayden Aluli, complained.
Yes, these representatives of the people -- with full knowledge of Kealoha's history and future potential -- wield such authority. And they have decided that, in light of all the data and with the community's well-being in mind, eight more months is short penance compared to the rest of Sergeant Miller's life.
Hawaii seems like a safe haven but maybe it's not. A young man looks like a good kid but maybe he needs additional time to reflect on what he's done.