Kau can benefit by prison, some say
HILO -- Build the new prison in Kau.That's the best place if the state builds the new prison on the Big Island, the state House Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee was told last night.
Nearly 50 people turned out for one of two informational meetings being conducted by the state House committee, led by Waipahu Democrat Nestor Garcia.
Russel A. Botelho, ILWU spokesman, said: "There is nothing in Kau today. I know guys still who are not working."
Panaewa resident Louis Kaoiwi told the committee that 40 years ago there were 14 sugar plantations on the Big Island. "Today we got nothing," Kaui said.
"What happened to those sugar workers? They have nothing today. If the people of Kau want a prison, they should have it.
"The economy is bad on Hawaii. I beg you. Please don't stop it. If the people of Kau want it, let them build it there."
Former Democratic Rep. Harvey Tajiri said that earlier this year, 800 Kau residents sent Gov. Ben Cayetano a petition endorsing the construction of a prison in their back yard.
"This is significant because there are only 1,600 registered voters in the Naalehu and Pahala area," said Tajiri, who now works for a Cleveland-based company that designs prisons. The V-Group company could finish a 1,500-bed prison in two years for $112 million, he said.
Garcia's committee will meet with Kau area residents tonight at another committee hearing at the Pahala Community Center.
Bank robber who shot at 3 cops sentenced to life without parole
Bitterly maintaining his innocence to the end, a man who fired a handgun at three police officers after he robbed a bank lashed out at the justice system and law enforcers yesterday.Philip Caban, 53, faces life in prison without parole for attempted murder in the first degree of one of the officers who chased him down.
Saying justice is blind and calling the Honolulu Police Department "sad," Caban accused the police of lying.
"His remarks show what kind of person he is," said Deputy Prosecutor Chris Young. "He has total disregard for life and property."
Caban robbed at gunpoint the Bank of America on South King Street of $14,000 on the afternoon of Sept. 15, 1993.
He fired multiple times at officer Ernest Robello, the first police officer at the scene. He then shot at a second officer, dumped his car and escaped on foot.
Caban then fired at a third officer, John Veneri, who shot back and hit Caban.
"It was a busy school day," Young said. "By the grace of God, no police or civilians were hurt."
Both Robello and Veneri testified at the sentencing before Circuit Court Judge Wilfred Watanabe, asking that Caban receive the maximum sentence.
"He fired without regard" for people on the streets, Veneri said.
Documentary compiled on Hawaii's athletes
The history of Duke Kahanamoku and dozens of Hawaii's great athletes has been compiled in a two-hour documentary."AT&T Heart of Champions with Larry Price" was presented this week to the Department of Education as an educational tool in the public schools.
"We are giving this film to Hawaii's children so that they can recognize the roles these athletes have played in sports history," said Larry Price, commentator, radio personality and former coach.
The documentary initially aired as a four-part series on NBC Hawaii News 8 last year.
The program led to an executive order by Gov. Ben Cayetano to establish a Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, which will debut next year on the Internet at http://www. Alohafame.com.
Long-distance bike ride to help lung association
The American Lung Association is looking for 1,000 pairs of strong thighs when it launches the GTE Big Ride Across America in Seattle next year.Bicyclists from across the nation are being encouraged to sign up for the long-distance cycling event.
Cyclists will depart from Seattle on June 15 and end in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 2, logging 50 to 80 miles per day.
Hawaii bicyclists interested in participating should call the American Lung Association at 537-5966.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffAuto break-in suspects held
Police arrested two men for allegedly breaking into several vehicles in Tantalus.Police were investigating the site of several burglarized vehicles yesterday in the 2000 block of Maunalana Street, when the two suspects returned to the scene, police said.
One suspect, 19, is from Waikiki. The other, 20, does not have a home address, police said.
Big Isle woman severely burned
HILO -- A Big Island woman is in critical condition at Queen's Hospital with burns over 50 percent of her body after fire destroyed the house where she was living south of Hilo last night.A second woman suffered burns on her feet, the Fire Department said. Hilo Hospital reported her in fair condition after undergoing surgery.
Neither woman's name was released.
The fire, which destroyed a small house valued at $33,000, was reported at 11:37 p.m. in Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision 12 miles south of Hilo.
The cause was unknown.
The owner was listed as Marcelo Kanuha and the occupant as Stacey Range.
Police probe Waimanalo fire
Arson detectives were called out to investigate a fire in Waimanalo this morning.The structure fire was reported at 3 a.m. at 41960 Waikupanaha St. The fire was contained in less than an hour, fire officials said.
Fishing vessel runs aground
The Coast Guard transported 30 crew members off a 152-foot Honduran fishing vessel to safety yesterday after the ship ran aground near the entrance to Pearl Harbor.The owners of Fortuna No. 21 contracted a local salvage company to free the vessel.
The salvage effort in the afternoon, however, was handicapped by low tide and will be continued today.
"We're concerned because there's still fuel on board," Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Greg Fondran said.
The longline fishing vessel was headed to Honolulu to seek medical attention for an injured crew member when it ran aground off Keahi Point.
The injured crew member was taken to Queen's Hospital.
The Fortuna's crew consists of three Taiwanese and 27 Chinese nationals.
Tip leads police to inmate
HILO -- Acting on an anonymous tip, police arrested David Caravalho Jr., 27, a Hawaii Community Correctional Center inmate who failed to return from a work furlough Monday.Caravalho was arrested yesterday at a house in Ainaloa subdivision south of Hilo.
Kona marijuana plants seized
KAILUA-KONA -- Police seized 1,018 marijuana plants during an eradication operation in North and South Kona yesterday, they said.
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