WASHINGTON -- Congress, as it labors through its annual appropriations process, is not the only one pumping federal dollars into Hawaii. Isle museums, libraries
By Pete Pichaske, Phillips News Service
receive $520,000This week, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal grant-making agency, awarded four grants totaling more than a half-million dollars to Hawaii institutions.
The largest is a $365,850 grant to Alu Like Inc. of Hawaii, the private, nonprofit organization involved with native Hawaiian library services in Hawaii.
According to its application, Alu Like will use the money to redesign its database, establish electronic linkages with other state libraries and social service agencies, and put a catalog of available native Hawaiian materials on the Internet.
In addition, Alu Like plans to "strengthen literacy skills" of native Hawaiians by providing books by mail, sponsoring teleconferenced educational workshops, and launching a library awareness campaign.
Another grant of $100,438 was given to the University of Hawaii at Manoa Library to develop a digital library of Hawaiian and Pacific islands materials.
UH Librarian John Haak said the money will allow the library to put online thousands of historic Hawaiian photographs from World War II and native Hawaiian newspapers, some dating back to 1834.
"This will not only promote access to these records, in which we've seen a lot of interest, but it will help preserve the originals," said Haak.
Viewing fragile photographs and newspapers on a computer screen, explained Haak, does not pose the threat viewing them in person does.
The remaining two grants were given to the Hawaii Museums Association.
The first, for $43,214, is to design and produce a brochure for tourists listing and describing Hawaii's museums.
The second, for $10,000, is to develop a directory of Hawaii museums for museums, visitor centers and travel agents.
The four Hawaii grants totaling nearly $520,000 were among 354 grants worth $10.3 million awarded to libraries and museums nationwide, according to Giuliana Bullard, spokeswoman for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
City officials have lauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to allow the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant to continue to discharge primary-treated sewage from an outfall about 1.7 miles offshore. City officials praise
By Harold Morse, Star-Bulletin
EPA on Sand Isle wastewater"This is a win-win decision for our city," Mayor Jeremy Harris said. "Waste-water customers will continue to save hundreds of millions of dollars that would otherwise be spent unnecessarily. Meanwhile, we will be disinfecting our treated sewage, further protecting public health and the environment."
The decision was announced yesterday by the EPA and the state Department of Health.
"In this permit, steps are taken to reduce the solids, suspended solids, in waste water as well as the bacteria," said Patrick Johnston, Health Department spokesman. "This is what we feel is a good permit, both for the ocean environment and for the Oahu taxpayer."
The mayor also has directed the city Department of Environmental Services to provide ultraviolet disinfection of the effluent to reduce bacteria.
The city has operated under a waiver from secondary sewage treatment, a more stringent treatment process, since 1990.
If the treatment plant were required to provide secondary treatment, it is estimated that Honolulu sewer users would have to pay $300 million more in construction costs, the city said.
Isle gets $19.7 million in grants for airports
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $19.7 million in grants to Hawaii for airport infrastructure, Sen. Daniel Inouye said.Lihue Airport will get $10.4 million to complete construction of a general aviation apron and taxiway.
Kona Airport at Keahole gets $4.6 million for an apron to provide ramp space for aircraft, aimed at relieving congestion when numerous flights land and take off in peak hours.
Another $3.1 million goes to the airport in Kona to build a wastewater treatment facility.
Airport expansion brings more wastewater flow, and the new plant will service the anticipated increase. Work then can begin on the new overseas terminal, proposed for the site of the existing wastewater treatment plant.
Kahului Airport is in line for $1.6 million to extend its runway to meet operation needs. Limited runway length imposes takeoff weight restrictions on departing overseas flights.
Another $144,688 will go toward incorporating existing runway, taxiway and apron data into a database.
HSTA urges 'no' votes on Con Con, amendment
The Hawaii State Teachers Association is urging residents to vote "no" on ballot questions regarding a state Constitutional Convention and a proposed constitutional amendment on same-gender marriage.The association said it opposes a convention because the $12 million needed to convene it could instead be used to buy books, said HSTA President Karen Ginoza.
Ginoza said there are ways to change the constitution without a large price tag -- such as the ballot question on same-sex marriage, which the union also opposes.
The proposed amendment would allow the state Legislature to restrict marriage to a man and a woman.
Ginoza said HSTA is asking voters to reject that amendment because it would single out a group of people for discrimination.
"This is a civil rights issue," Ginoza said yesterday.
"If the constitution doesn't protect everyone, then it protects no one. That's why we're opposed to the amending of the constitution."
Maui officials searching for snake at Makawao
WAILUKU -- State officials were expected to conduct a search today in Makawao for a snake reported in a pasture in Makawao, said state wildlife biologist Fern Duvall.Duvall said a child reported seeing the snake -- about 6 to 8 feet long and 6 inches in diameter -- near Maha Road on Sept. 23.
He said it was the 13th sighting of a snake on Maui since August 1997 and none of the searches have been successful.
Officials may have more success in the future if they are able to get a dog trained to find snakes, he said.
Navy loses power at Lualualei ammo depot
A car rammed into a utility pole in Waianae this morning, knocking out power to the U.S. Navy's Lualualei ammunition depot and radio transmission station.No residents lost power, a Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman said. The pole at Apana and Paakea streets will be replaced and power was expected to be back at the navy site by late afternoon.
No injuries were reported.
Isle gets $19.7 million in grants for airports
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $19.7 million in grants to Hawaii for airport infrastructure, Sen. Daniel Inouye said.Lihue Airport will get $10.4 million to complete construction of a general aviation apron and taxiway.
Kona Airport at Keahole gets $4.6 million for an apron to provide ramp space for aircraft, aimed at relieving congestion when numerous flights land and take off in peak hours.
Another $3.1 million goes to the airport in Kona to build a wastewater treatment facility.
Kahului Airport is in line for $1.6 million to extend its runway to meet operation needs.
Voter registration ends on Monday for election
Eligible voters have until 4:30 p.m. Monday to register for the general election.To make it easier for voters to register, the state Office of Elections will set up wikiwiki drive-thru registration at several locations on Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oahu, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Kauai and the Big Island. All locations will also be open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
Voters can stop by the locations to register or update existing registrations.
On Oahu drive-thru registration will be set up at the State Capitol, Pearl City Shopping Center, and Windward Mall. Voters can also register at the Hilo Bay Drive parking lot and Lanihau Shopping Center parking lot in Kona, and the Kauai County Building in Lihue.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffRoommate arrested in alleged ax attack
An 18-year-old Wahiawa man was arrested yesterday after he allegedly injured his roommate with an ax.The suspect reportedly threatened to kill the 33-year-old man with an ax during an argument at their Dole Road home at 5:21 p.m., police said.
When the roommate turned to walk away, the suspect allegedly chopped him once in the back.
The victim was seriously injured and taken to Queen's Hospital where he is in satisfactory condition.
The suspect was booked for attempted murder.
Two 8-year-old boys booked in sex assault
Two 8-year-old boys were arrested yesterday in connection with the sexual assault of two 11-year-old girls.The girls were surrounded by a group of boys Saturday on Waterhouse and Factory streets in Kalihi, police said. The boys reportedly touched and fondled the two girls.
Police said the two boys were arrested when the girls identified them at school. The boys were booked for third-degree sexual assault and released pending further investigation.
Men in stolen truck ram store to get at ATM
Police are searching for a group of men who rammed a Pearl City convenience store with a stolen truck early today in an attempt to steal an automated teller machine.The truck repeatedly rammed the Fastop at 2321 Auhuhu St. at about 3:30 a.m., police said.
Witnesses said the men fled in a white van after unsuccessfully trying to remove the ATM.
Big Island grass fire nearly extinguished
WAIMEA, Hawaii -- Firefighters this morning were mopping up a multiacre grassland fire bordering Mamalahoa Highway west of Waimea on Parker Ranch land this morning.A bulldozer was continuing to cut a firebreak around the burn area, the Fire Department said. No property had been threatened by the fire, which began at 10:30 a.m. yesterday and was fanned by high winds. Its origin and exact size are unknown.
THE COURTS
Blood in jeans evidence of
By Susan Kreifels, Star-Bulletin
murder, says prosecutorThe blood was on the inside of the jeans, not the outside, and that may be the strongest evidence the state has against Stephen Bright.
Bright, 30, is accused of murdering hotel executive Kenneth Brewer, a homosexual who Bright said deceived him into thinking he was straight.
Bright, a construction worker who says he is heterosexual, testified that he went back to the victim's Hawaii Kai condominium after they met in a gay bar on Sept. 30, 1997. Brewer, 58, came into the room naked and wanted sex, then grabbed Bright by the throat and crotch, looking "evil." Bright punched the victim a number of times in self-defense.
But in closing arguments yesterday, Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima said blood that matched the victim's was found on the inside of Bright's pants, not the outside, indicating Bright had taken his pants off.
Bright testified he didn't take off his clothes.
"He couldn't explain how it got there," Tashima told jurors in Circuit Judge John Lim's court room. "When the question was asked, he just sat there silent."
Tashima accused the defendant of agreeing to go home with Brewer to have sex for money, then changing his mind after oral sex began.
But Deputy Public Defender Jack Tonaki said in his closing argument that there was no evidence to support the victim had propositioned Bright.
Tonaki said blood had spurted everywhere from the victim and that the blood on the jeans could have come from Bright's feet or rubbed off his shirt.
Tashima countered that by the time Bright returned to his Kaneohe home hours later and took off his clothes, the blood would have been dry.
The defense said the trial wasn't about gay or straight people but sexual assault and that the law allows the use of deadly force against the threat of rape and sodomy. Tonaki said Bright is not guilty of murder, manslaughter or assault.
Just because Bright was drunk that night and had missed the bus home, "that doesn't give anybody the right to violate him," Tonaki said. "Like no man has any right to violate any woman."
Tonaki said witnesses who knew Brewer testified that he had been depressed and lonely because he hadn't been able to pick up anyone, and that he liked young, straight men.
Bright testified that Brewer was still alive when he left the condominium. When he heard on the news later that Brewer was dead, he turned himself in. Bright said he was hanging out at Hula's Bar until he could catch a bus home early the next morning. He said he knew the bartender and thought he could get free drinks there.
Man gets 15 years for robbing McDonald's, other businesses
A man was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for robbing and burglarizing McDonald's restaurants and other East Oahu businesses between June 21 and Aug. 6 last year.Circuit Judge John Lim sentenced Darrell Hicks, who pleaded guilty to six counts of kidnapping, one count of robbery in the second degree and at least seven counts of burglary in the second degree. Crimes involved McDonald's restaurants on King and School streets.
The parole authority will determine how many years Hicks must serve.
Three men were suspected of breaking into businesses near McDonald's restaurants while staking out the fast-food chain. Hicks was accused of using a pellet gun to rob one of the McDonald's.
Employees were threatened at gunpoint and ushered into storage closets or walk-in freezers before the men fled with cash.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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