Starting this fall, Hawaii banks and thrifts will require a fingerprint for check cashing services from nonbank customers. Isle banks to require
fingerprint checksThe program, initiated by the Hawaii Bankers Association and the Hawaii League of Savings Institutions, is designed to combat the growing problem of check fraud which cost local financial institutions about $1.1 million last year, the groups said today.
Under the plan, a person cashing a check at a bank that he or she doesn't have an account with must leave a fingerprint on the face of the check. The customers also is required to present standard forms of identification.
Customers who are account holders will not be required to leave a fingerprint signature.
Local financial institutions that are participating in the program include Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of America, Bank of Honolulu, Central Pacific Bank, City Bank, Hawaii National Bank and Territorial Savings and Loan.
Those who seek prostitutes in Waikiki are forewarned: Honolulu police are watching you, too. Police in Waikiki arrest
11 clients of prostitutesCapt. Alvin Nishimura of the HPD's Narcotics/Vice Decision today said 11 customers or "johns" were arrested last night as part of the department's continuing effort to curb prostitution in the tourist district.
Nishimura said three female undercover officers last night arrested 10 men -- two from Hawaii, eight from the mainland -- and a woman during a "reverse operation" from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the streets of Waikiki.
Those arrested, ranging in age from 21 to 54, posted $500 bail each. They are to appear in District Court for arraignment in the next few days.
Police usually conduct these operations twice a month but recently have been doing it once a week because they have the manpower, said Nishimura. Originally, they were conducted only in Chinatown -- where customers can drive up to prostitutes at the curb. But police have expanded the work to Waikiki due to the increasing number of prostitutes there.
Nishimura estimated about 50 prostitutes were out in Waikiki last night. Despite these arrests, he said, the key to curbing the crime is to let the customers know they could be arrested for prostitution. During these operations, undercover policewomen pose as prostitutes, with a plainclothes officer assigned to each of them.
Hawaii's public schools spent $5,532 per student in 1994, a little more than the national average, the Census Bureau said today. Hawaii above average
in spending on studentsPublic schools in New Jersey, New York, Alaska and Connecticut spent more money per student than schools anywhere else in the country.
New Jersey spent an average of $8,902 on each kindergarten through 12th-grade student that year, according to the survey. New York shelled out $8,162 per student, Alaska paid $7,890, and Connecticut spent $7,629.
Two women were being held at the Wahiawa police station this morning pending bail after they were arrested for illegal camping at Mokuleia Beach Park, police said. Two arrested for illegally
camping at Mokuleia parkThe arrests stem from eviction notices the state Department of Transportation issued July 15 to 40-50 homeless families who had been living along the highway.
Some had moved their campsites to the beach park.
A Wahiawa police officer said the women had expected the arrests and went with police peacefully at about 6 a.m.
No children were with the women, who were staying in separate campsites, police said.
No names were released.
Another man was arrested for four outstanding bench warrants for previous offenses, police said. They didn't have details on the offenses.
One of the arrested women also had an outstanding bench warrant against her, police said.
Transportation officials said in July that the squatters were evicted because they were blocking the right-of-way for the two-lane highway and putting themselves in harm's way.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffThe New Zealand Navy and the U.S. Air Force today are helping an American fishing boat that ran ashore on a Pacific Island reef. U.S. fishing boat
stuck near NiueThe fishing vessel, Kaioni, was on a trip from Hawaii to Rarotonga when it ran aground early Tuesday night on Beveridge Reef, 135 miles southeast from the island of Niue.
New Zealand navy personnel early today airlifted two men from the ship.
A spokesman for the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga said the crews of the frigate Canterbury and support vessel Endeavour had been recalled from shore leave so they could sail to the scene.
Canterbury carries a helicopter.
Rescue coordinators said the men, who were headed to Samoa, had been stranded on the reef since Tuesday but did not appear to be in any immediate danger.
