Inouye encourages Hawaii to focus on positive about economy
Stop the gloom-and-doom talk about Hawaii's economy, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye urges.Moreover, he says the Legislature next year should consider resurrecting proposals from Gov. Ben Cayetano's Economic Revitalization Task Force that died this year.
If more of the task force's recommendations had been approved, "it would have projected a much more positive picture or perception of our business climate," maintains Inouye, who backed the task force's proposals.
The panel's key recommendation was to raise the general excise tax from 4.0 percent to 5.35 percent to help offset personal and corporate income tax reductions meant to stimulate the isles' sluggish economy.
But the Senate balked at any tax increase. As a result, only personal income taxes were cut and not as much as Cayetano wanted.
Inouye, speaking yesterday to more than 1,000 people at the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce's annual membership luncheon, also said: "Let's not talk ourselves into an economic doom. Let's shift gears and, as the old song says, 'Let's accentuate the positive.' Let's not spend too much time being pessimistic."
Kailua board fights golf course waste-water tank
A few weeks ago, Trudy Stone was reading the paper with her husband when she came across a story about the city's proposal to build an underground sewage storage tank at the end of Iana Street near the sixth hole of the Mid-Pacific Country Club."I said Bill, that's our house near the sixth tee," Stone recalled.
Since then, Stone has become a self-described "sultana of sewage" and has been one of the leaders in the fight against the proposal to put the waste-water storage tanks on Iana Street.
"It's like putting a toilet in the middle of a family room," she said.
During a meeting last night attended by more than 100 people, the Kailua Neighborhood Board agreed with Stone. The board unanimously passed a resolution stating its opposition to the tank on Iana Street and a second proposed storage tank on Kailua Road just before the bridge at the entrance to Kailua.
The resolution also opposes locating the tanks near any homes or businesses or the current Aikahi sewage treatment plant.
It asks the city to locate the tanks in areas zoned for industrial usage.
Kaiser Permanente replaces Maili Clinic with Nanakuli facility
When Faye Aki started with Kaiser Permanente's Leeward Oahu clinic in 1961, there were roughly 30 patients a day.The clinic now sees about 140 to 150 patients daily, Aki says.
The staff at one time consisted of one physician, one registered nurse, one receptionist and a combination X-ray and lab technician, she says. It now has a staff of about 45, including seven doctors, four registered nurses, two licensed public nurses and two pharmacists.
Starting Monday, Kaiser patients will go to a new, bigger clinic.
The Nanaikeola Clinic on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli replaces Kaiser's 37-year-old Maili Clinic on St. John's Road.
Aki, a supervisor, said the clinic is "trying something new," with family practice, pediatrics and internal medicine in different corridors forming a U-shape. The pharmacy and reception area are at the front.
The clinic staff worked with architects to design a building meeting medical and patient needs, said Jan Kagehiro, Kaiser spokeswoman.
"They have their heart and soul in this place. I think that's why they're extra proud," she said.
Robbery nixed as motive in businessman's killing
Homicide investigators have ruled out robbery as a motive in the death of Honolulu businessmanml6 SamuelGilbert Jr. Samuel Gilbert Jr., whose body was discovered Tuesday in his Waikiki apartment building office.
"There might have been a confrontation over something other than money," Detective Allan Castro said.
Investigators declined comment on an autopsy performed to determine cause of death. Gilbert, 69, was killed at about 1:50 p.m.
Anyone who may have seen or met with Gilbert between 8 a.m. and 1:50 p.m. Tuesday is asked to call either Castro or Detective Clifford Rubio at 529-3115 or 529-3080, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Teachers union backs legislative candidates
The Hawaii State Teachers Association has announced the first of its endorsements in state legislative races.Senate incumbents endorsed by the union include Roz Baker, Avery Chumbley, Rod Tam and Cal Kawamoto. House incumbents winning the HSTA's nod include Joe Souki, Bertha Kawakami, Calvin Say, Ken Hiraki, Tom Okamura, Mark Takai, Nobu Yonamine, Roy Takumi, Ron Menor, Paul Oshiro and Ken Ito.
Health Plan Hawaii wins national accreditation
Health Plan Hawaii, an HMO affiliate of HMSA, has received full accreditation through June 16, 2001, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.The committee's review included evaluations by physicians and managed-care experts.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHaiku man shot dead before birthday party
WAILUKU - Maui police detectives are investigating the shooting death of a 43-year-old Haiku man.The man's body was found outside the garage of his Haiku residence at 99 Nolu Road, said Haiku resident Sally Daniels.
Daniels said she saw the man about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and he invited her family to his birthday party that day.
She said the man's body was found two hours later by a neighbor who had gone to the home to wish him a happy birthday.
Student charged with rape attempt at school
Police yesterday charged an 18-year-old Radford High School student for allegedly trying to rape and sodomize a 16-year-old girl at the school.Jeffrey Higa was charged with kidnapping and two counts of attempted first-degree sexual assault and is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Higa allegedly grabbed a girl who was washing her hands in the restroom on Wednesday. She escaped with minor cuts. He later admitted he was trying to rape and sodomize the girl, police said.
19-year-old arrested for taxi cab robberies
Police have arrested and charged a 19-year-old Honolulu man in connection with a series of taxi cab robberies that date back to March 22.
Benito Peloli was charged yesterday with two counts of first-degree robbery, kidnapping and firearms violations. He is being held on $125,000 bail, police said.
Police are searching for three more suspects believed to have been involved with the robberies.
Diver's body recovered off Mokuleia Beach
Rescue crews this morning recovered the body of a 41-year-old Aiea man who had been spearfishing off Mokuleia Beach Park.Putonu Vee was reported missing at 1:46 a.m. by his fishing partners when they didn't see him for about 45 minutes, officials said. They had started diving about 8 p.m. last night.
His spear and light were found at 3 a.m. The body was found at 7:30 a.m. about 15 yards from the beach, fire officials said. The body had some signs of trauma, apparently from hitting the reef.
Man sought in robbery of Kaimuki liquor store
Police are searching for a man who attempted to rob the Rainbow Country Liquor Store in Kaimuki at gunpoint last night.The man is described as Caucasian, 18 to 20 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, of thin build, and wearing a baseball cap, scarf, dark jacket and long pants.
No injuries were reported.
Teen allegedly steals car from dealership
Don H. Longfellow, 19, was charged with first-degree theft yesterday for allegedly stealing a Toyota 4-Runner from Toyota City in Kalihi on Tuesday.Longfellow is believed to have stolen cars from four other dealerships around the island during the month of June, police said.
He was arrested Wednesday at Toyota City when he returned to test-drive another car. An employee recognized the man and called police.
Longfellow is being held on $25,000 bail.
Man charged in attack on wife with knife
Richard F. Ramos, a 28-year-old Pearl City man, was charged with reportedly beating and threatening his wife with a kitchen knife.
Ramos is being held on $15,000 bail.
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