Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, March 23, 1998

U.S. gasoline prices at
lowest level since 1920—
except here

By Star-Bulletin staff and wire

Gasoline prices nationwide fell nearly 2 cents a gallon in the past two weeks and are at their lowest level since 1920 when adjusted for inflation, according to a new survey.

The average price of gasoline, including all grades and taxes, was about $1.07 on Friday, according to the Lundberg Survey of 10,000 stations nationwide. That was down 1.91 cents from the March 6 survey. At self-service pumps, regular gasoline was about $1.02.

"The crude-oil prices are the most important factor," analyst Trilby Lundberg said yesterday.

Crude-oil prices have dropped nearly 50 percent in the past 14 months, leading to a more than 14 percent decline in mainland gas prices.

However, Hawaii's gas prices, highest in the nation, have barely budged and last month averaged $1.662 a gallon for self-serve unleaded, according to the American Automobile Association.

On Friday, Gov. Ben Cayetano authorized the hiring of an independent anti-trust attorney to assist in the state's investigation of Hawaii's gasoline prices.

A day earlier Cayetano directed Attorney General Margery Bronster to investigate whether anti-trust laws have been violated by oil companies acting together to keep Hawaii's gas prices high.

"In the wake of dramatically falling crude prices, Hawaii's consumers should be seeing lower prices at the pump," Cayetano said. "We need to be sure that Hawaii's consumers are benefiting from competition among our oil companies."

The governor accused the companies of taking in $200,000 in "extra profits" every day they maintain their wholesale prices at current levels in the face of a 20 percent decrease in costs. If the companies were to maintain such a margin for a whole year, they would take in $73 million in "extra profits," he said.

BHP Hawaii and Chevron Corp., operators of the state's two oil refineries, contend that the state is a unique market and that competition drives local prices.

Holmes, Bainum and Felix seek a public campaign finance law

City Council members Steve Holmes, Duke Bainum and John Henry Felix are urging the state Legislature to pass a "clean money" campaign financing reform bill.

The three have scheduled a news conference for today to discuss the issue.

The bill before the Legislature seeks to provide total public campaign financing for qualified candidates who agree to give up private contributions, limit spending and shorten their campaigns.

The three Council members in a resolution say they want to see the current system replaced by "a combination of voluntary contributions and public clean money financing that will relieve candidates of the need to rely on private interest large contributors."

Downtown YWCA starts new fitness program

The Downtown Laniakea YWCA at 1040 Richards St. is opening a new fitness club for the spring session, which runs from today through May 31.

The public is invited to try it free until March 31.

The Y's Health and Wellness Program was revamped for the new club to give members more flexibility to choose workouts. In the past they had to register for individual classes.

Susan Au Doyle, YWCA of Oahu executive director, said the program was developed "to make fitness a more convenient, affordable and pleasant part of our busy everyday lives."

Benefits include unlimited use of cardiovascular and weight rooms, access to all aerobic and aquatic exercise classes, use of the gym for basketball during scheduled hours, use of the pool during swim periods and shower services.

Club memberships are $32 a month or $384 a year. Household memberships, good for two adults and children under age 18, are $55 per month or $660 per year. Guest passes are available for $5 for one day, $20 for one week, $30 for two weeks or $40 for a month.

Participants must be YWCA members. Fees are $30 for adults, $15 for seniors and $15 for children and teens.

Workshops to promote 'calming' of traffic woes

A City Council resolution introduced by Councilman Andy Mirikitani calls for meetings to promote "traffic calming" and the quality of life.

The first community workshop takes place 7 p.m. today at Makiki District Park. It will take a look at the part of Honolulu bounded by Nehoa, Punahou, King and Pensacola streets.

Mirikitani says the idea is based on a similar program in Seattle credited with reducing speeding and traffic accidents by up to 90 percent. The councilman said he wants to put the brakes on speeding and make neighborhoods safer for families and children.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Man charged with being 17-year-old girl's pimp

A 33-year-old Kakaako man has been charged with second-degree promotion of prostitution involving a 17-year-old girl.

Cleveland Nelson of 1655 Makaloa St. is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail. The girl said Nelson was her pimp from mid-February to March 9 of this year, police said.

He was also arrested but not charged for second-degree sex assault, pending further investigation.

Fire guts Kalihi home; no injuries reported

Four adults and a 3-year-old boy escaped uninjured from an early morning fire that caused an estimated $140,000 damage to a Kalihi residence at 1008 Laa Lane.

Fire investigator Capt. Glenn Solem said the five people got out of the house through two windows. Damage from the 1:18 a.m. blaze was concentrated to the front of the house, he added.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters had the fire under control at 1:28 a.m.

Alcohol a possibility in city bus fatality

Alcohol may have contributed to the death of a 45-year-old man who fell into the path of a city bus yesterday on Hotel Street near Kekaulike Street, said police vehicular homicide investigators.

The man was pronounced dead at Queen's Hospital following the 3:55 p.m. traffic incident. Investigators said the eastbound bus was leaving a bus stop when the man fell in front of it and was run over.

Two girls, boy injured as car flips in Lanikai

Three teens were hurt in an accident that knocked out power in Lanikai yesterday afternoon, police said.

Two girls and a boy were injured and taken to Queen's Medical Center, where they were reported to be in good condition, police said. The teens were riding in a Volkswagen Jetta on Aala Papa Drive around 3 p.m., police said.

They passed Lanikai Park, drove over a hill and flipped the car. The top half of a utility pole was snapped as a result of the accident, and the downed pole caused all of Lanikai and Mid-Pacific Country Club to lose power until about 4:30 p.m., said Officer Barry Tong of the Kailua station.

Tong said speed and weather were contributing factors.

Hit-and-run driver kills Big Island pedestrian

HILO -- A hit-and-run accident killed a man walking on Huiuna Road in Kurtistown south of Hilo Saturday night, police said. The man, whose identity was withheld pending notification of his next of kin, was about half a mile from Volcano Highway when he was struck about 10:38 p.m. by an unknown vehicle.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at 961-2332.

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