WASHINGTON -- The nation's "first tourist" might be heading back to Hawaii. President may visit
on way home from ChinaPresident Bill Clinton told Hawaii's two U.S. House members yesterday that he wants to spend a couple days relaxing in the islands after his trip to China in late June or early July.
"He expressed the hope that he would be able to go," said Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Honolulu. "It would be strictly R&R, I think."
Said Rep. Patsy Mink, D-rural Oahu/neighbor islands: "He said he thinks he's coming. He's hoping to spend a few days."
Abercrombie and Mink met with Clinton in the White House as members of the congressional Asia Pacific American caucus.
The White House today said Clinton's travel plans are not yet definite, and even dates for the China trip are still uncertain.
Clinton may host Pacific Rim summit
WASHINGTON -- President Clinton yesterday expressed interest in holding a meeting of Pacific Rim leaders at Honolulu's East-West Center next year and in helping thousands of Filipino World War II veterans receive their promised benefits.The president's comments came at a White House meeting with members of the Asian Pacific American congressional caucus, including Hawaii Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink.
"It was a very fruitful meeting," said Mink, chairperson of the caucus. "We reviewed some of the things that are very important to our membership and had some very positive responses.
"We hope this is the beginning of many opportunities to meet with the president."
"It was more than productive," said Abercrombie. "The president was extremely well-informed on all the issues we raised. And I think he genuinely enjoyed himself."
Among topics discussed:
A Pacific Rim summit at the East-West Center.
Clinton reportedly was intrigued by the suggestion that he hold a meeting of Pacific Rim nation leaders, including those from smaller Pacific islands, in Honolulu.
The tens of thousands of Filipinos who fought as part of the U.S. military are growing restive about receiving the benefits they were promised, and have staged frequent protests here and elsewhere.
Clinton appeared sympathetic, although he noted that the Filipino veterans are competing with others for a limited amount of money.
To the dismay of a growing segment of voters, Clinton, like previous presidents, has failed to name any Asian Pacific Americans to his cabinet, despite increasingly heavy lobbying.
The president indicated he might address the subject soon, according to Mink.
Tobacco giant moves to strike state suit
Attorneys for leading cigarette conglomerates are claiming the state cannot sue the industry directly to recoup millions of dollars spent on health care for tobacco-induced diseases.In a hearing on a motion to dismiss a state lawsuit, Circuit Judge Kevin S.C. Chang yesterday heard more than 4-1/2 hours of testimony from Phillip Morris Inc., Tobacco Research-USA Inc., Hawaiian Isle Distributors and the state.
Chang will hear arguments today on eight other motions to dismiss, filed by others in the industry. The tobacco industry is arguing that it should be dealing with individual cases, rather than with the state.
"They're saying we do not have direct action against them, that we should stand in the shoes of cigarette smokers and try each case one by one," state Attorney General Margery Bronster said.
"But we have strong authority for what we are doing, and Hawaii law is favorable to the state's case."
Bronster said Hawaii courts have given the state the same type of "equitable power" as Minnesota, which currently is in its 14th week of trial against the industry.
Hawaii also has racketeering statutes similar to Texas and Florida, she said.
The industry has settled lawsuits with those two states and one other.
Survey seeks input for Hawaii issues 'report card'
Here's a chance to let people know what really counts about living in Hawaii.Ke Ala Hoku is a grass-roots program supported by organizations with one goal: bringing together visions of children and adults to make a better Hawaii.
The program is conducting a statewide survey to determine the Top 10 areas to include on a "report card" on Hawaii.
From now until May 30, Ke Ala Hoku will ask at least 5,000 residents what they feel are the state's most important issues.
Ke Ala Hoku, which means "star course," sets up benchmarks for the community to measure the state's health and well-being.
Twenty-four states have similar projects.
Aloha United Way by 2002 will allocate 75 percent of its funds based on survey results.
To participate:
For more information, call ASK-2000 or 521-3861.
HPU freshman is a study in catching crooks
Catching crooks is nothing new to Hawaii Pacific University freshman Jared Williams.Since July 1997, Williams has run down suspects in two robberies, one in Philadelphia and one in Waikiki.
Why?
"Nobody else was going to help," Williams said.
Police Chief Lee Donohue yesterday recognized the 21-year-old Williams for his help in capturing a purse-snatching suspect here in March.
Williams, who moved to Honolulu in August, saw a man running down Ohua Avenue with a screaming woman running after him.
He immediately gave chase and tackled the man to the ground, holding him until officers arrived.
He credits his quick legs in apprehending the suspect, and not his brain.
"I didn't even think about it," he said. "If I thought about it, I might not have done it."
He was never recognized in Philadelphia for apprehending a man who stole clothes and money from a woman. "I'm surprised," Williams said about the recognition. "This is cool."
Jury decides father tried to kill infant daughter
Gordon Lee Aplaca showed no emotion, but his relatives had tears in their eyes as jurors convicted the 28-year-old Waialua man of trying to kill his 9-1/2-week-old daughter."This breaks my heart," Joe Behic, grandfather of one of Aplaca's children, said yesterday after the verdict. "I really believe he doesn't belong in jail."
But Robert Nielson, jury foreman, said jurors looked at all the evidence in the June 18 incident "and it pointed to the defendant."
He said the jury's first vote when they began deliberating Wednesday afternoon was 6-6 in the attempted-murder case.
He said there were discrepancies in the testimonies and that each juror was influenced by different things.
"We took many votes," he said. "We wanted to find a decision we all could live with."
Deputy Prosecutor Dan Oyasato said he was happy with the verdict, but added that child abuse cases were difficult to prosecute.
Peraltos sentenced to life term, no parole
LIHUE -- Circuit Judge George Masuoka yesterday sentenced convicted murderers Monica Alves Peralto and Mitchell Peralto to life in prison without parole, telling them "the community needs to be protected from people like you."The husband and wife received the enhanced sentencing because of the "cruel and heinous" nature of the kidnapping and murder of Kimberly Washington Cohen, 23, last summer.
Second-degree murder normally carries a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.
Witnesses said the couple bound Washington Cohen's arms, ankles and breasts, gagged her mouth so tightly "her face was deformed," taped a blanket over her head and torso, and dumped her struggling body into the back seat of a car before driving away.
Washington Cohen's body was found the next day in a shallow grave less than a mile away.
Before being sentenced, Monica Alves Peralto burst into tears and told the victim's 6-year-old daughter, Macy Someda Dill: "I loved your mom. Macy, I'm really sorry. I loved your mom."
The victim and Alves Peralto were cousins.
Marketer challenges law against canal gondolas
Tour marketer Michael Coulter has filed suit requesting injunctions against state and city prohibition of commercial gondola-style tourist cruises on the Ala Wai Canal.Coulter plans to begin such commercial activities soon, the federal court suit says, and he wants an injunction to stop officials from enforcing the laws and to prevent his arrest and prosecution.
He has been threatened with criminal prosecution, confiscation of boats, fines, arrest and other penalties if his request is not granted, the suit adds.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffSpa owner accused of sexual assault
Police yesterday arrested the owner of a spa at Manoa Market Place in connection with sexually assaulting a customer.The 37-year-old woman was reportedly sexually assaulted by the 47-year-old owner following a massage on Sunday, police said. The woman told police the assault happened after she had a glass of wine at the establishment, which gave her symptoms similar to those involving a "date rape drug."
Police removed wine, wine glasses and nonprescription Dramamine from the establishment yesterday for analysis.
The man was booked for six counts of second-degree sexual assault.
Pearl City woman is arrested after knifing
A 25-year-old Pearl City woman was arrested yesterday in connection with the attempted murder of a man she resides with.The woman allegedly stabbed the man, 30, several times during an argument in a car at about 10:48 a.m., police said. The man suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, hand and chest area.
In other news...
The woman, 21, reported that she accepted a ride from an unknown man in a pickup truck after locking her keys in her van parked on Halawa Valley Street between 9 and 11 p.m., police said. The man drove to an unknown location and allegedly raped her.
The man entered the bank at 98-211 Pali Momi St. at 1:28 p.m., handed the teller a demand note indicating he was armed. No weapon, however, was seen.
The three entered the room, demanded money, and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The men were described as being in their late teens or early 20s, all of medium height and weight, all wearing dark T-shirts and shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
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