Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, June 24, 1997

New policy: You cut class,
your grades get cut

Waianae High senior Kalai Irvine hopes a new policy that links absences to grades will help reduce chronic absenteeism at his school and improve graduation rates.

The state Board of Education recently approved a waiver to allow Waianae High to implement stricter policies that officials hope will improve attendance.

School officials believe attending class regularly will help students achieve higher grades, develop good work ethics and increase participation in athletics and other campus activities.

Irvine, a football and basketball player, knows too well what happens if he and fellow athletes cut class or school. He expects more athletes to attend classes more regularly, knowing they won't be allowed to play if they don't.

The board also approved similar policies for Kalaheo High, Kaiser High, Kalani High and Lahainaluna High, effective this fall.

Waianae High and its feeder schools, Waianae Elementary, Maili Elementary, Makaha Elementary and Makaha Elementary, have the highest combined rate of absenteeism in the state, according to statewide statistics.

Based on 1994-95 statistics, Waianae High, with a population of 2,150, has an average 450 students, or 21 percent, absent per day, said counselor Linda Tanaka.

Gang code hindered
convictions in Talo death

The gang code that causes members to fight to defend each other led to the beating death of 17-year-old Sam Talo on Oct. 18 -- but it also prevented prosecutors from getting murder convictions for him, attorneys say.

A Circuit Court jury yesterday rejected second-degree murder charges for Jedediah Kekumu, 20, and Sean Lee, 18, and acquitted Galu Solo Vala Jr. of attempted first-degree assault.

Jurors agreed that Kekumu played a role in Talo's death, but couldn't decide on the level of his involvement, from manslaughter on down.

They also rejected most manslaughter and assault offenses for Lee, but couldn't agree on third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Judge Wendell K. Huddy declared mistrials for the two, ordering Kekumu to stand trial for manslaughter and Lee for third-degree assault.

"This is one of the toughest cases I've ever tried," Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Takata said after the verdicts.

He said the state wasn't willing to make deals with defendants for lesser charges and that most who watched the brutal beating weren't willing to testify.

Kane to kill book-buying
contract this week

State Librarian Bart Kane is expected to notify Baker & Taylor by the end of the week of the state's intention to terminate the controversial book-buying contract.

"The state of Hawaii has a clear case for termination and expects to win that matter if it's disputed," Kane said yesterday.

The state Board of Education last week voted to end the contract after accepting the recommendation of a blue ribbon panel charged with evaluating the company's performance.

Kane and deputy attorney general John Dellera met Friday to discuss what the state needs to do to terminate the contract. The state intends to sue Baker & Taylor for damages, Kane said.

As of May 23, Baker & Taylor had sent less than 40 percent of the more than 92,000 materials selected for fiscal year 1997, and was still behind on fiscal year 1996 materials. The state has paid all except a remaining balance of $333,000 to Baker & Taylor for fiscal year 1997, Kane said.

Father denies causing
injuries to 2-month-old

A 27-year-old Waialua man has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree attempted murder charge stemming from serious injuries to his infant daughter.

Gordon Lee Aplaca entered the plea during a Family Court arraignment before Judge Lillian Uy while members of his family watched.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

Aplaca was charged Friday with abusing his 2-month-old daughter, Katiana, who was taken to Kapiolani Hospital for Women and Children last week in critical condition.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.

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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Jack-knifed tractor-trailer
snarls traffic on Likelike

Drivers on Likelike Highway this morning were detoured around a jack-knifed truck outside the Wilson Tunnel.

Police closed both town-bound lanes on the Kailua side of the tunnel and directed drivers onto the road's shoulder.

The truck crashed this morning at 3:30 a.m. Police were unsure how long it would take to remove the vehicle.

Man arrested after ramming
another vehicle with his car

Police arrested a 29-year-old Waianae man last night for suspicion of attempted murder after he repeatedly rammed his car into a vehicle his ex-girlfriend and another man were driving on Noelani Street in Pearl City.

No one was injured, police said.

Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:

• Enchanted Lake resident accused of sex assault
  
• Fire and Coast Guard teams rescue kayak tour

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.