Both sides claim victory in clash over tests on whales
The Navy and environmentalists claim success in the monthlong clash over low-frequency noise experiments on endangered whales off the Big Island's Kona Coast.The Navy called it a success despite a 30 percent loss of experimenting due to protesters jumping in the water to stop the research. "We got what we needed," said Joe Johnson, Navy project manager.
The environmentalists called it a success because of greater public awareness resulting from the fight. "It's been a wonderful lesson for the people," said Michael Bailey, local director of Greenpeace.
Organizations that experiment on Hawaii's endangered marine mammals in the future should learn from the controversy and better educate the public before beginning, said Gene Nitta, spokesman for the National Marine Fisheries Service, which issued the Navy its permit.
Better-than-expected weather allowed the Navy to make up for the nine days lost due to the protesters, Johnson said.
"We didn't get as many samples as we wanted, but I don't think it's going to hurt the overall objective of the experiments."
Influence of gangs spreads in Kahuku, Waianae
Kahuku and the Waianae Coast have joined Kalihi and Waipahu as areas where researchers are focusing on youth gangs.A youth survey taken at Dole, Kahuku, Waianae and Nanakuli intermediate schools shows that youth in Kalihi continue to feel the influence of gangs keenly, and that the problem is growing in other areas of Oahu.
When asked if they knew people in their neighborhoods who are in gangs, 44 percent of Kahuku youths surveyed said they did. The report showed 39 percent of Waianae youths, 36 percent of Nanakuli youths and a whopping 80 percent of Kalihi youths responded similarly.
"Kahuku we clearly saw has a problem, and it's a rather significant one, actually. And also the Waianae Coast -- about a third of the kids in those communities know of people who are in gangs," said Meda Chesney-Lind, principal investigator of "Trends in Delinquency and Gang Membership: An Interim Report to the Hawaii State Legislature."
Although gang membership is being kept under control, the report shows youth violence, both gang-related and nongang-related, is on the rise, with juvenile arrests for serious crimes in Hawaii jumping 200 percent from 1986 to 1996 compared to a national increase of only 67 percent.
The February report, recently released, was conducted by the University of Hawaii Social Science Research Institute's Youth Gang Project. The study was funded by the state Office of Youth Services as part of the Hawaii Youth Gang Response System.
The 8-year-old UH project collects information on Oahu's gang problem and helps youth agencies and services focus on gang intervention and prevention activities.
Chesney-Lind explained yesterday that most of the 200 percent increase in youth violence can be attributed to the number of youths arrested for two offenses: aggravated assault and robbery.
While the figures are a cause for concern, the UH-Manoa Women's Studies professor said arrests for youth for violent offenses constituted only 2.6 percent of all juvenile arrests in Hawaii in 1996.
"It's not a cause for a panic, but it is a cause for further research," said Chesney-Lind, who is working with the attorney general's office to see whether patterns in juvenile robbery are related to increased reporting of offenses or a real change in the behavior of youths.
The 42-page report also interviewed 250 youths in 10 gang prevention and intervention programs to derive a profile of youth at risk in Hawaii.
The findings showed high levels of violence, with 48 percent reported hitting or threatening to hit another person and 13.5 percent reported carrying a hidden weapon to school. The mean age of the youth interviewed was 12.9.
Olani Decker, program specialist at the Office of Youth Services, said the report will help educate agencies, the public and lawmakers about problems and trends. It is available at the youth services office and the UH library system.
Soldier faces May trial in daughter's death
A soldier accused of murder in the Jan. 26 death of his daughter is scheduled to stand trial the week of May 26.Carl Branch yesterday pleaded not guilty to murder, which carries a term of life in prison with parole.
An Oahu grand jury indicted Branch on Wednesday for his role in the death of his 7-week-old daughter, Kaia. The indictment alleges that Branch intentionally or knowingly caused the infant's death, based on actions on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25.
Kaia died Jan. 25 in Wahiawa Hospital. The state listed cause of death as intercranial hemorrhaging from blunt trauma.
Prosecutors have said the federal government may take the case.
Grants save program at Waikiki Aquarium
The Waikiki Aquarium will make its popular five-week marine science program available to high school students this summer.The Blue-Water Marine Lab, created 20 years ago to help students learn more about Hawaii's marine environment, was at risk because of state budget cuts.
A $25,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation and $5,000 from Dames & Moore will underwrite the costs of the program. The summer course features classroom instruction, laboratory and field work in marine science, ocean affairs, ocean safety and conservation skills.
The program begins June 22 and is open to high school students grades nine through 11. Tuition is $400 for residents and $650 for nonresidents.
Applications are due at the Waikiki Aquarium by May 15. Call the aquarium's education department at 923-9741 for information.
Noted author to speak at isle conference
Healing ourselves as we heal the world will be the topic of keynoter Marianne Williamson's speech at 7 p.m. April 28 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom, part of the 1998 Governor's Conference on Volunteerism.Williamson -- noted author of "A Return to Love," "A Woman's Worth," "Illuminata," and "The Healing of America" -- will discuss how people can play significant roles in improving the world.
The volunteerism conference will take place April 28 and 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton's Coral Ballroom. The focus will be on community partnerships for positive change.
Unity Churches of Hawaii is sponsoring Williamson's seminar. Children aged 5-12 are also invited that evening to a seminar next door to share their visions of a healthy and prosperous Hawaii. Donations are welcome.
Tickets to Williamson's speech are $20. For more information, call 396-HOPE (396-4673).
Outstanding volunteers of UH faculty sought
The public is invited to vote on two University of Hawaii professors for outstanding volunteerism in the community. The award recipients will receive $5,000 each.Eligible candidates include full-time faculty members of UH-Hilo, UH-West Oahu and UH Community Colleges.
Faculty members at UH-Manoa are not eligible. One woman and one man will be chosen.
The award was established last year by the Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau Ching Foundation to recognize stellar UH faculty members who have made significant contributions to the community. The award emphasizes unpaid volunteer community service.
Nominations may also be made by UH faculty, staff, students or alumni. The deadline is 3 p.m. April 16. Nominations should be submitted to Monomita Krishna, chair, Faculty Service to the Community Award Committee, Kapiolani Community College, Humanities Department, 4303 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816. For more information, call 734-9169, or 956-7522.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPolice hunt suspect in beating, rape
Police are searching for a 39-year-old man in connection with the apparent beating and rape of a former girlfriend at Dole Community Park in Makiki last night.The woman, 34, and the suspect met at the park to talk at 11:30 p.m., police said.
The man allegedly hit the woman repeatedly, forced her to undress and threw her clothes onto the nearby freeway.
He then allegedly raped the woman. She was treated at Queen's Hospital and released, police said.
Drugs seized in raid at residence in Maili
Police seized 92 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 19 grams of cocaine and unspecified amounts of black-tar heroin in a raid of a Maili residence at 87-1217 Paakea Road last week.Courtney Jeter, 37, and his 40-year-old wife, Andrea, are charged with multiple drug offenses, and are being held in lieu of $100,000 and $75,000 bail, respectively.
In the Wednesday raid, police recovered chemical ingredients and lab equipment inside the house that indicate drugs were also being manufactured there.
Watches, jewelry and computer equipment were seized for forfeiture. The items may be stolen property traded for drugs, said Capt. Alvin Nishimura of HPD's Narcotics/Vice Division.
Girl slashed with sword in critical condition
A 15-year-old Pearl City girl suffered multiple wounds when she was slashed with a "ninja sword" yesterday. She remained in critical condition today in Queen's Hospital.A 16-year-old boy turned himself in shortly after the 3:30 p.m. attack, which occurred in the 1000 block of Noelani Street near the intersection of Hoomalu Street in Pearl City.
The weapon was recovered at the scene, and the suspect was arrested in connection with attempted murder.
The victim and suspect were acquainted, detectives said.
The suspect was apparently upset about a recent breakup.
Kauai beating victim suffers eye injury
LIHUE -- A man was severely beaten by a group of young males at Lydgate Park on Kauai about 9:45 p.m. Friday.Police said the man drove himself to Wilcox Hospital. He suffered serious injury to one eye.
Firefighters beat back two blazes on Big Isle
WAIMEA, Hawaii -- Firefighters have contained two brushes fires in west Hawaii after they blackened 650 acres and threatened a wind energy facility, fire officials said.A fire that broke out at 8:07 a.m. yesterday came to the edge of electrical generating towers at Lalamilo, about five miles downslope from Waimea, but firefighters were able to halt it there, saving that part of the wind farm.
The fire burned 400 acres.
Another fire about 10 miles to the north off Akoni Pule Highway burned 250 acres starting Sunday.
Both fires were smoldering today and continued to be monitored because of the wind.
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