New computer system to tally votes could save $1 million
The state is considering a new computer system for the fall elections that could save $1 million to $1.5 million in the cost of the primary and general elections.Voters would use a pencil to mark ballots rather than punching holes.
Election Systems & Software, an Omaha company, is proposing to install the new computer system for a test-drive in the elections this fall.
If the state likes the system, it will have an option to buy or lease it.
The cost of the hardware for the system is about $2 million, but details of the contract and servicing agreements would still have to be negotiated.
"They've offered a full-service contract that is very interesting," said chief election officer Dwayne Yoshina.
Company representatives came to Honolulu last week to show off the system to county clerks and state elections officials.
The state's present election computer system is outdated, Yoshina said.
IBM no longer produces the election computers the state now uses and also no longer provides software support, making it difficult to service the present system and to find replacement parts and machines.
The new system uses an optical scanner to read ballots so that voters will no longer need to punch out tabs in the voting booth. That makes it easier and cheaper to print the ballots, Yoshina said.
Isles are foreigners' fourth favorite site
WASHINGTON - With more than 3 million visitors in 1997, Hawaii remained the fourth favorite American destination of foreign travelers, according to figures released yesterday by the Commerce Department's Tourism Industries office.Hawaii attracted 3.1 million foreign visitors last year, up slightly from the previous year and behind only California (6.4 million), Florida (6.1 million) and New York (5.3 million).
The figures did not include travelers from Canada and Mexico.
In keeping with other recent indicators, however, the figures show the islands' share of the foreign-visitor market dwindling.
In 1996, 13.5 percent of all foreign visitors went to Hawaii. Last year, the proportion dipped to 12.7 percent.
Earlier this week, a survey by the Travel Industry Association of America found that while Hawaii remained the third favorite summer getaway for American vacationers, it was losing popularity while its main rivals - California, Florida and Nevada - were gaining.
Hanauma Bay closes upon shark's return
A pesky white-tipped reef shark returned to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve this morning, keeping snorkelers and swimmers out of the tropical fish-laden waters. The beach area remained open.The shark, about 5-6 feet long, is the same one that closed the beach for 21/2 hours Tuesday, said the city Parks Department.
It was spotted just before 9:30 a.m. today.
Lifeguards will try to lead the "unwelcome visitor" back into the ocean before reopening the bay, officials said.
Country honors police killed in the line of duty
City and state flags across the country were flown at half-staff today in honor of police officers killed in the line of duty.Peace Officer's Memorial Day, May 15, was proclaimed by President John F. Kennedy on Oct. 1962, said Gov. Ben Cayetano's office.
The day coincides with National Police Week, established in 1961 by a congressional resolution.
Man pleads no contest to Kahoolawe fishing
WAILUKU -- A Big Island fisherman will be sentenced on July 9 after pleading no contest to two misdemeanor counts of fishing and anchoring in Kahoolawe waters.Jubilee Logan, 37, of Hilo, was scheduled to go to trial but changed his plea Wednesday in return for the prosecution dropping two other misdemeanor charges against him.
The charges stem from incidents on Feb. 8 and March 2. Each misdemeanor count carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Logan was still on crutches from an accident that occurred when, he said, a barge struck and sank his boat at night.
He said because of the Kahoolawe prohibition, he was forced to anchor his boat far away from the island.
Police ask addresses be placed on buildings
Police in east Honolulu want street numbers on homes and other buildings.They've begun to encourage residents and businesses to put up the numbers. The lack of street address numbers or inability to see them could result in delayed emergency services especially when it's dark.
Officers say numbers in many cases are missing, faded, obscured by plants, too small to be read from the street or illegible because they blend in with the surrounding surface.
Use numbers that contrast with the building color and are at least 2-1/2 inches high, police say. Also, building owners are advised to place street numbers in a conspicuous location where they're readily visible, such as on a mailbox, garage or near the front door.
State works to reduce pollution runoff
The state is "proceeding aggressively" to carry out a document released today by two national agencies to prevent and reduce polluted runoff, says a Hawaii health official.The plan was developed over two years by a group of state, county and federal officials, landowners and other interested parties, Bruce Anderson, deputy director for environmental health, said by telephone from Chicago. He is en route home after a mainland business trip.
The plan's recommendations are intended to prevent and reduce pollution as sugar and pineapple lands are converted to diversified crops, and to reduce pesticide use and retain soil to protect island streams, coastal areas and drinking water sources.
The draft document was released today and published in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Attorney accused of industrial espionage
A federal grand jury here returned an indictment of industrial espionage against a Michigan attorney.David T. Krumrei, 49, is accused of theft of a trade secret related to a product produced or placed in interstate of foreign commerce.
The indictment says Wilsonart International Inc., located in Temple, Texas, is involved in manufacture of laminates, commonly known as "Formica."
From early 1992 through 1996, Wilsonart invested more than $31/4 million in research to develop a new press plate coating process that would result in a mar-proof laminate with a glass-like surface resistant to scratching, the indictment says.
While this process was being developed, Wilsonart brought in a company in Michigan known as Vactec to aid in actual industrial use of the process, according to the indictment.
Krumrei, while associated with the Michigan operation, allegedly secretly obtained access to various Wilsonart trade secrets related to the new technology.
He also allegedly contacted a major competitor of Wilsonart's, the Australian firm CSR Ltd., to see if he could market the stolen information.
Officers of CSR immediately notified Wilsonart in Texas, the indictment says, and a meeting was set up with Krumrei in Honolulu.
On Jan. 10, 1997, Krumrei met with an undercover agent posing as a CSR representative, and Krumrei tried to pass on the stolen secrets, the indictment says.
Krumrei, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty for violation of the trade secret law of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPolice hunt three suspects in Subway robbery at Mililani
Police are searching for three suspects who robbed the Mililani Subway Sandwiches and Salads shop last night.A man about 18 to 20 years old entered the Meheula Parkway business at 9:51 p.m. and pulled two knives on the store manager, police said.
The man then waved two more suspects into the store when the manager refused to give him money.
A man and woman entered the establishment, forced the manager into the bathroom and demanded the safe key.
The manager told them that she did not have the key.
The suspects then fled with a safe and an undisclosed amount of money from the register, police said.
No injuries were reported.
Waianae man arrested after threatening sister with knife
Police arrested a 41-year-old Waianae man who allegedly threatened to kill his sister with a cane knife yesterday.The man reportedly swung a cane knife at his 30-year-old sister at their Kaulawaha Road home at 5:40 p.m., police said.
The man stopped swinging the knife when their mother yelled at him.
Officers recovered the knife and arrested the man for first-degree terroristic threatening.
Motorist from Keei is killed in accident on Hawaii Belt Road
KAILUA-KONA -- A one-vehicle accident took the life of Arnold Kaluna, 26, of Keei, South Kona, last night, police said.Kaluna was declared dead at Kona Hospital shortly after midnight after he ran off the Hawaii Belt Road at Manuka and was thrown onto lava rocks about 9 p.m., police said. Police believe alcohol was involved, they said.
Pedestrian's death was caused by heart attack, police say
HILO -- An autopsy has determined that a pedestrian believed to have been killed in a hit-run accident March 21 actually died of a heart attack brought on by acute alcohol intoxication, police said.Allen Kamoku Ahyo, 37, of Hilo, was hit on Huina Road in Kurtistown by an unknown driver after he was dead, they said.
Marijuana eradication drive continues in Puna, South Hilo
HILO -- Police continuing a marijuana eradication operation in the Puna and South Hilo districts seized 4,759 plants yesterday, bringing the total for three days of operations to 17,567 plants, they said.
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