Gov. Ben Cayetano has won the endorsement of the Hawaiian Government Employees Association in his effort to win a second term Nov. 3. Government workers
union backs CayetanoAlso endorsed by the public employees union was Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Daniel Inouye, and Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink.
There was no endorsement in the Kauai mayoral race, but on Maui the union endorsed James Apana.
The union also is advising its members to vote against two constitutional amendments: the convening of the Constitutional Convention and the convening of the state tax review commission every 10 years instead of five.
In the state Senate races, the union endorsed Lorraine Inouye; David Matsuura; Avery Chumbley; Jonathan Chun; Les Ihara; Rod Tam; David Ige; Randy Iwase; Cal Kawamoto; Robert Bunda; and Bob Nakata.
In the state House races, the union endorsed Dwight Takamine; Eric Hamakawa; Robert Herkes; David Tarnas; Sol Kahoohalahala; Joseph Souki; Bob Nakasone; David Morihara; Chris Halford; Ezra Kanoho; Bertha Kawakami; David Stegmaier; Jon Ishimi; Barabara Marumoto; Calvin Say; Brian Yamane; Scott Saiki; Tom Brower; Terry Yoshinaga; Brian Shatz; Ken Hiraki; Sylvia Luke; Lei Ahu Isa; Dennis Arakaki; Jun Abinsay; Romy Cachola; Wilfred Tangonan; K. Mark Takai; Nobu Yonamine; Roy Takumi; Nestor Garcia; Marilyn Lee; Ron Menor; Marcus Oshiro; Paul Oshiro; Maeda Timson; Michael Kahikina; Merwyn Jones; Alex Santiago; Iris Catalani; Ken Ito; Cynthia Thielen and Kenny Goodenow.
In the races for the Honolulu City Council, the union endorsed Melodie Aduja and Andy Mirikitani.
Coast Guard workers sent to diesel spill site
Equipment and workers from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu have been sent to Kure atoll, located 1,100 miles from Oahu and 50 miles west-northwest of Midway, to control a diesel fuel spill.The spill was caused by the grounding Friday of a fishing vessel carrying 11,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Six crew members were taken to Midway Island and are in good condition, the Coast Guard said.
New leader takes over Army's Pacific command
Lt. Gen. Edwin P. Smith yesterday became commander of the 40,000 soldiers and civilians who belong to the U.S. Army Pacific.Previously, Smith served as the head of the Southern European Task Force in Vicenza, Italy.
CORRECTIONS
The population of China is 1.3 billion. A fashion story in Monday's Local Moco section listed an incorrect figure.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWAILUKU -- The man who fatally shot his wife and then himself at Iao Parkside was told by police a few hours before the shooting to stay away from her for 24 hours. Suicidal shooter
By Gary Kubtoa, Star-Bulletin
ignored cops’ orderMaui police responded to a call about 5 p.m. Monday after Thomas K. Kim went to the town house where his wife, Diane Kim, was staying, said police Capt. Victor Tengan.
"He was trying to get back together with the wife, and evidently she didn't want to get back together with him," Tengan said yesterday.
Tengan said since there were no marks of physical abuse on Diane Kim and she indicated she had not been physically abused, police did not arrest Thomas Kim.
Tengan said police have been unable to find any record of domestic violence involving Thomas Kim.
Thomas Kim returned at 8:38 p.m. and used a shotgun to shoot the lock on the front door.
He entered the home and used a handgun to shoot his wife in a bedroom, then himself, Tengan said.
Thomas Kim had worked as a customer service representative for United Airlines since 1969 and returned to Maui on Oct. 11 after working for several months on Kauai, said Scott Poomaihealani, an airlines official.
Thomas Kim, originally from Oahu, moved to Maui in 1988 and had been married previously to another woman named Diane who had custody of their 17-year-old daughter.
Robbery suspect arrested in Waipahu
Police yesterday arrested and located a man in connection with two robberies in June.The suspect is believed to be the gunman in the June 13 robbery of a Waipahu Chevron service station and Yama's Fish Market, police said.
He was identified after the robberies, but fled to the mainland.
Yesterday, police Crime Reduction Unit officers learned that he was back on Oahu and located him.
He was apprehended after a chase through a residential area on Aniani Place in Waipahu.
Makiki man accused of attacking woman
A 33-year-old Makiki man was arrested yesterday for the alleged beating and sexual assault of a 52-year-old woman, police said.According to a detective's report, the woman was in her bedroom when the man attacked her at about 7:23 p.m.
The man was booked for first-degree sexual assault.
Suspect arrested after taking cigar from store
A man was arrested in connection with robbery after he allegedly took a cigar from a Moiliili 7-Eleven store.The suspect entered the store at 10:45 p.m. yesterday brandishing a bat, police said.
He mumbled something to the cashier, reportedly took a cigar and left.
He was arrested shortly after. The cigar and the bat were recovered.
COURTS
Participant in 'ice' deal gets 10 years for aiding and abetting
By Crustal Kua, Star-BulletinA federal judge yesterday handed down a 10-year prison term to a man who played a minimal role in a conspiracy to try and sell a pound of crystal methamphetamine, the man's lawyer said.
"It sends a message to people that you can do a little and get a lot," said Arthur Ross, court-appointed lawyer for Jeffrey Desaulniers.
U.S. District Judge Alan Kay, in sentencing Desaulniers, gave him credit for having minimal participation in the conspiracy, Ross said.
A jury in May found Desaulniers guilty of aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of "ice" and conspiracy to distribute and possess the drug.
At trial, Desaulniers, 41, tried to prove that he wasn't involved in the transaction.
"He never intended to sell the stuff," Ross said. "He's an addict, not a dealer."
Desaulniers was in a car with two others that was following a truck occupied by Martin Booth and an undercover agent, Ross said.
They were arrested Feb. 4 when Booth tried to sell a pound of ice to the agent.
Booth is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to possessing and attempting to sell 20 ounces of "ice" to the agent for $43,450 at a fast-food restaurant and a sports store.
Booth also pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell the drug on Jan. 13 and Feb. 4 with Desaulniers and Oscar Garcia.
Federal prosecutors have said the illegal drug, which was 72 percent to 98 percent pure, was brought from California by Garcia and that Desaulniers observed the sale to make sure "Booth did not get ripped off."
Ross said his client was forced to follow Booth in the accompanying car.
Desaulniers lived in a car on Booth's property in Honolulu, Ross said.
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