Hotel workers union endorses Cayetano
Saying the state has "worked diligently" to help the hotel industry during difficult economic times, the Hawaii Hotel Workers Union has endorsed Gov. Ben Cayetano for re-election.The support came yesterday at a news conference held by Tony Rutledge, Hotel Workers financial secretary.
He said the endorsement wasn't meant as an attack on Maui Mayor Linda Lingle, the Republican candidate for governor, who once worked for the union as its newspaper editor.
"The endorsement reflects the uncertainty of the rank-and-file union members with the Republican Party, which has not yet demonstrated in its action or rhetoric that it is the party for workers, as the Democratic Party has done for the past 40 years," Rutledge said.
He said that when the union asked its members whom it should endorse, the majority were for Cayetano.
Oahu seeks $100 million in empowerment funds
Waimanalo needs more child-care services to enable parents to work and improve their education. And the North Shore sees economic promise in increasing commercial aquaculture in the area.Those statements are part of Oahu's bid to get $100 million in federal funds over 10 years.
Mayor Jeremy Harris yesterday announced that 55,000 volunteer hours over a four-month period led to completion of an Empowerment Zone application, which is due Oct. 9 at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.
Oahu hopes to be one of 20 empowerment zones selected nationwide in January.
"Hundreds of community leaders have come together as part of the Oahu Empowerment Zone Initiative," the mayor said.
"They have developed strategic economic development plans for the communities of Aiea, Kalihi-Palama-Chinatown, Greater East Honolulu, Koolauloa, Papakolea, North Shore, Waianae, Waimanalo and Waipahu."
Hawaii was unable to participate in the program until this year when Sen. Daniel Inouye co-sponsored a rule that provides for special size and poverty-rate guidelines so the state could be eligible for empowerment zone designation.
The Community Empowerment Fund is aimed at creating and retaining about 280,000 jobs nationwide.
Two judges retained for six-year terms
The state Judicial Selection Commission has retained District Court Judge Russel Nagata and District Family Court Judge Bode Uale.Nagata's new term is effective Monday. It is his second six-year term.
Uale's term begins Oct. 27. It will also be his second six-year term.
In granting the petitions for retention, the commission said it investigated the judges' qualifications and evaluated information on their backgrounds, professional skills, character and other qualities.
Kailua-bound Pali lanes closed for road work
Kailua-bound lanes on Pali Highway from Waokanaka Street to Nuuanu Pali Drive will close from 10 a.m. to midnight tomorrow as road work continues.Kailua-bound motorists will be contra-flowed onto one of the Honolulu-bound lanes during those hours.
$3.8 million job starts at H-2 Mililani junction
Work begins Monday on the H-2 freeway at the Mililani interchange.A $3.8 million Kiewit Pacific Co. contract includes grading, constructing a drainage and retaining wall system, paving, and installing highway lighting and traffic signal systems.
Asked about the timing of the state's lawsuit against oil companies, Gov. Ben Cayetano referred to a 1995 law permitting the government to hire outside law firms on a contingency basis. Another law was cited in a Star-Bulletin article yesterday. CORRECTION
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWaianae teen critical after one-car crash
A Waianae teen-ager was critically injured when his car slammed into a concrete wall near Campbell Industrial Park this morning, police said.The youth, 17, was driving west on Old Farrington Highway when he lost control of his 1982 Buick Regal, hit a curb and slammed into the wall, traffic investigators said.
They said the teen, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered serious head and chest injuries when he struck the car's steering wheel.
Speed is a probable factor in the 7 a.m. accident, police said. The youth was airlifted to Queen's Hospital.
Police arrest girl, 17, in stabbing of another
Police this morning arrested a 17-year-old girl for allegedly stabbing another 17-year-old girl several times with a Swiss army knife in Waikiki.The girls got into a fight at 2266 Kuhio Ave. at about 12:40 a.m., police said. According to a police report, "it appeared that the victim was getting the better of the suspect. The suspect then removed a knife from her shoe and stabbed her several times."
The victim, who sustained several stab wounds to the upper body, was taken to Queen's Hospital where she remains in guarded condition.
The suspect ran away but was arrested when she returned to the scene.
She was booked for first-degree assault. The knife was recovered.
Wind causes flare-ups in Waianae Valley fire
The Waianae Valley brush fire that started Wednesday morning and threatened hundreds of homes has not been declared extinguished as of this morning.Fire crews early today responded to two flare-ups.
Officials said they were caused by winds blowing some embers.
Man accused of threats with screwdriver, rifle
Police last night arrested a 37-year-old Ala Wai man for allegedly threatening two 19-year-old men with a screwdriver and rifle.One of the younger men was urinating in the bushes fronting the suspect's Kahakai Drive home at 9:20 p.m., police said.
The suspect approached the two men and reportedly threatened them with a screwdriver.
As they started to leave, the suspect got a rifle from his home and the men ran away.
The suspect was arrested a short time later, and the rifle was recovered.
Family of seven rescued on Sacred Falls trail
Firefighters from Hauula rescued a family of seven who could not make it down the Sacred Falls trail before nightfall.Other hikers called the fire department just before 7:30 p.m., officials said.
Fire Capt. Roger Dehay said the family was trying to make its way down the trail in darkness when firefighters arrived. He said the family was "happy to see us."
The family, visiting from San Diego, included three children ranging in age from 7 to 15.
The older siblings were 19 and 22.
Guava tree breaks fall, saves visitor's life
POLOLU, Hawaii -- A Pennsylvania man who fell 100 feet down a north Hawaii cliff yesterday was saved from falling to his death by a guava tree, the Hawaii County Fire Department said.David Buchanan, 51, of Mechanicsburg, Penn., is in stable condition at North Hawaii Community Hospital today, the hospital said.
Buchanan and his wife, Betty, were passengers on the Rhapsody of the Sea ocean liner, fire department rescuers said.
They joined a hike conducted by Hawaii Forests and Trails along the Kohala Ditch Trail in North Kohala, the department said.
At 11:46 a.m. the department received notice that Buchanan had fallen off the trail above Pololu Valley and had gone down a nearly vertical cliff with guava trees growing out of it.
He was stopped by the last guava tree, just before a clear drop of about 200 feet, they said.
Rescuers rappelled down the cliff to Buchanan and lifted him out with a helicopter.
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