Protester vows to attack vehicle of water officials
HILO -- Hawaiian Homes water protester Patrick Kahawaiolaa says he will attack the next Hawaii County water truck that comes into Hawaiian Homes areas to read water meters.Kahawaiolaa made the statement yesterday after he and six others were arrested and charged with obstructing government operations when the Department of Water Supply moved to cut off their water.
Kahawaiolaa, the state director of Aupuni O Hawaii, contends that the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 says that beneficiaries are to receive "water free of all charges."
In 1995, he and about nine other Hawaiian Homes residents poured cement over their county water meters and refused to pay their bills.
The county moved against them yesterday. The seven arrested were Kahawaiolaa, 53; William Brown, 36; Daisy Spalding, 52; Benjamin Spalding, 54; Jeremy Leong, 50; Norman McComber, 55; and Samson Brown, 57. All were charged with obstructing government operations, then released.
The arrests were made in the Keaukaha and Panaewa areas of Hilo.
Samson Brown was also charged with possessing a deadly weapon, described by police as some kind of stick, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was released on $350 bail.
Leong was also charged with terroristic threatening then released.
Salvation Army cooking up huge turkey feast for people in need
Three years ago the number of people going to the Salvation Army for free Thanksgiving meals was dropping, and officials felt good about it.But then Hawaii's economy soured and welfare reform kicked in. This Thanksgiving the Salvation Army plans to feed more than ever at its annual Blaisdell Center turkey feast -- between 2,400 and 2,600 compared with about 1,400 in 1994.
"Our facilities are full," said Salvation Army Maj. Don Mowery, commander for the Hawaii and Pacific Islands division. "The need is there."
Hawaii has seen a 14 percent increase in requests for overall assistance compared with last year. The main increase has come from families, while help to homeless individuals has dropped because more of them are being referred to the Institute for Human Services and the River of Life Mission for meal programs.
The biggest jump comes from families who have working members and housing. About 60 percent of them are single mothers with children.
"They are coming for a box of food and check to help pay rent for a month," said Judy Lee, spokeswoman for the Salvation Army in Hawaii.
The Salvation Army's USA Western Territory, which covers Hawaii and 12 other states as well as Micronesia, has seen an average 25 percent increase in requests for help since welfare reform started, according to a random sample of the Western Territory.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffAnti-prostitution campaign nets four men, two women
Police made six prostitution arrests last night in a continuing effort to decrease criminal activity in Waikiki.Four men between the ages of 22 and 54 were arrested for allegedly propositioning an undercover female officer who was posing as a prostitute.
Three of the men are from Hawaii.
The fourth is a tourist from Germany.
All the men were arrested on Kalakaua Avenue.
Two women, ages 22 and 38, also were arrested in connection with prostitution.
The women were arrested on Cleghorn Street.
Military medical helicopter rescues stranded hikers
Four hikers yesterday were brought down from a ridge located between Dillingham Airfield and Camp Erdman by a military medical helicopter.Firefighters from the Waialua Station responded to the 5:53 p.m. alarm after witnesses, including a man who was hang-gliding, saw the four men apparently waving for help, Fire Capt. George Ku said.
The men, all military personnel, did not appear to be seriously injured.
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