More than 900 Marine aviators and maintenance crews at Kaneohe took a day off from training today to review safety procedures, as 42 heavy-lift CH53D Sea Stallion helicopters were grounded. Isle Marine fliers
observe stand-downToday's safety stand-down is the first servicewide order in the wake of six air crashes in a recent seven-day span. Defense Secretary William Cohen ordered all branches to study safety because of the recent rash of accidents.
Cohen and military officials have stressed that the overall flying safety record of the U.S. military this year is similar to that of last year, which was the best on record. The Navy, Army and Marine Corps left it up to individual flight units to decide when to schedule 24-hour training halts.
He wore a three-piece suit and a fedora with a pheasant lei headband. He always had a big cigar dangling from his lips -- and a hand extended in friendship. Ewa park honors
beloved politician"That's how I remember my dad," said Bino Alexion, daughter of the late John M. Asing, itinerant politician for whom the new Asing Community Park in Ewa Beach is named.
Asing spent many weekends clearing brush from what was then Honouliuli Park, which was on an acre of what is now West Loch Golf course. A new site for the park, across the street from the old park, was rededicated last week in a ceremony with family and friends coming from as far as Oklahoma.
Asing was one of the longest serving elected officials in the state. He served on the Honolulu Board of Supervisors from 1935-55 as an at-large representative.
"It wasn't just a job for him, it was his passion," Alexion said.
He was a "hands-on" politician in the old style, when earning votes meant building friendships and earning constituents' trust.
Queen Street might become one-way through Kakaako some day, but don't hold your breath. Queen Street may become
one-way, but not soon"We're trying to continue it as a two-way main street," said Jan Yokota, acting executive director of Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state agency planning the new Kakaako.
The authority has approved hiring a traffic consultant to take a look.
An answer on the Queen Street question might be available "within six months or so," Yokota said.
A traffic consultant has not yet been selected, she said.
A "mauka plan" calls for Queen Street to be paired with Pohukaina Street in Kakaako, with each one-way in an opposite direction to the other. But an option might be to retain Queen as two-way with only Pohukaina one-way, Yokota said.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.
Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffHeavy rains appear to have contributed to a three-car collision yesterday on Moanalua Road in Halawa that left a 19-year-old Mililani woman critically injured, police said. Rain blamed for crash
that left woman injuredThe woman was traveling westbound about one-tenth of a mile east of the Kahuapaani Street overpass when her vehicle rear-ended another vehicle. The woman's vehicle veered after impact and was broadsided by another vehicle, police said.
The woman is at Queen's Hospital. A 37-year-old Honolulu man, whose vehicle was rear-ended, and a woman, 24, from Halawa, who was driving the third vehicle involved in the 3:30 p.m. accident, escaped serious injury.
Police yesterday charged a 26-year-old Kaimuki man with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a 15-year-old boy Friday during a fight in Waikiki. Kaimuki man charged
in Hoolaulea stabbingThe suspect, arrested as Henry M. Vallente Jr. of 3437 Winam Ave., has been charged as Henry Valentine, a Criminal Investigation Division spokesman said. Bail is $100,000.
The suspect allegedly stabbed the youth in the ribs with a knife during the Waikiki Hoolaulea. The victim is in fair condition at Queen's Hospital.
Other police/fire items:
Pair charged in burglary of Ward electronics shop
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.
