Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, October 22, 1998

Space projects on Haleakala
crowding out broadcasters

WAILUKU -- With U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye in attendance, the Air Force yesterday celebrated completion of improvements at a deep space surveillance observatory at Haleakala.

"It just enhances and ensures we can do it in the coming years," Air Force Maj. Steve Cooke said.

While the military and scientists are experiencing success at Maui's 10,000-foot summit, television and radio stations are finding there's only so much room at the top.

The University of Hawaii, which owns the lease to an 18.1-acre area, has proposed moving the stations' antennae and relay systems to a different site.

According to a study cited by the university, the TV and radio frequencies are interfering with observatory work.

University officials have suggested the best site would be at Kalepeamoa at the 9,300-foot level, about a mile southwest of the observatories.

The state Office of Environmental Quality Control is reviewing the proposal and requesting comments until Nov. 9.

EPA Green Lights energy saving
award brightens state officials

To First Hawaiian Bank, there are two good reasons for being part of the state's effort to reduce energy consumption.

Spokesman Gerry Keir said: "It saves money on the lighting itself and also -- since (lights) run cooler, it saves on the air-conditioning."

The bank has been in the cost-savings program three or four years starting with retrofitting lighting in the branches.

Queen's Hospital, a participant since July 1996, saves more than $145,000 yearly, the state says.

The state says there has been savings of $9.2 million over the past five years.

The state won an honor from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reduced energy consumption through the EPA Green Lights Program, a voluntary effort to retrofit lighting systems to high-tech efficiency to reduce lighting energy use by 30 percent-35 percent and improve light quality.

Makakilo residents debate
use of cattle for fire control

Beef cattle grazing near Makakilo to keep down vegetation before it dries and catches fire got mixed reviews last night before the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board.

Some thought the idea a good alternative to destructive brush fires, such as the one that burned a Makakilo home in July.

"Fire control is certainly a valid use of the cattle," said board member Brent Buckley, a University of Hawaii beef extension specialist.

Other residents wanted no cattle within a few feet of their back yards, worrying about smells, flies and possible injuries.

"The cows don't bite," Buckley countered.

About 80 residents heard Campbell Estate representatives explain the proposal in the Laulima Room of the James Campbell Building in Kapolei.

Lloyd Haraguchi, estate community development manager, said the estate is willing to put in 6,000 feet of woven-wire fence along the Makakilo boundary to keep cattle from entering residential back yards.

"The fence is going to cost over $100,000," he said.

Contractor pleads guilty to theft in state tax case

Hilo contractor Herbert P. Ishibashi has entered a guilty plea to first-degree theft in a tax case, state Tax Director Ray Kamikawa announced.

Conviction for the Class B felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

The indictment says that from about April 1, 1994, through Jan. 15, 1996, Ishibashi withheld state taxes from his employees at Aloha State Electric in an amount exceeding $20,000 but that he failed to transfer this money to the Department of Taxation.

Kamikawa entered the guilty plea before Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura Monday. Sentencing date is Dec. 2.

Tax Director Kamikawa encourages taxpayers to voluntarily file tax returns. The department generally will not initiate a criminal investigation if taxpayers voluntarily come forward to report failure to file or other omissions.

Lanes on Moanalua, Pali to close for upgrading

A Moanalua Freeway Honolulu-bound left lane and Ewa-bound left lane will be closed from 8:30 tonight to 5 a.m. tomorrow from Halawa Interchange to Puuloa Road for upgrading median glare screens.

The same closure areas and times will go into effect overnight Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Also, a Pali Highway Kailua-bound right lane from a half-mile past Nuuanu Pali Drive to just before Pali Lookout Road will be closed tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The reason for the closing is guardrail work.

Hawaiian studies center hosts storytelling event

Former Iolani Palace administrator and curator Jim Bartels will share stories about Queen Liliuokalani and strange tales about the palace at a free storytelling event tomorrow at the University of Hawaii Center for Hawaiian Studies.

Also, John Lake of the Hawaii Academy of Arts, Music and Dance will talk about ghosts and the unique and strange events he has experienced during his travels. Kumu hula Charles Kaupu will discuss the akua and 'aumakua, or Hawaiian gods.

The talks will be from 7 to 10 p.m., and are co-sponsored by the center and the academy.

Marrow drive begins today at Blaisdell hall

The Hawaii Bone Marrow registry will be conducting a bone marrow recruitment drive at the New Products Show today through Oct. 25 at the Neal Blaisdell Center exhibition hall.

Donors must be between 18 and 60 years of age and in generally good health. A small sample of blood is collected from potential donors for tissue typing, then the donor is placed on Hawaii and national donor registries.

The registry matches marrow donors with people who need transplants because of terminal blood diseases like leukemia.

Forum to spotlight Pacific aquaculture

Cabinet-level officials from 16 Pacific Island nations, Japan and Hawaii will convene Wednesday through Oct. 30 at Tokai University to discuss aquaculture.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism is sponsoring the meeting with the Association for Communication of Transcultural Study of Japan, the state Aquaculture Development Program, Hisaka Stone Goto Yoshida Cosgrove & Ching and the Consulate General of Japan.

This forum will be the ninth in a series dealing with Pacific Islands issues. For information or to register, call 587-2767.

Huge volunteer force to do Ala Wai cleanup

More than 1,000 youths and community volunteers will participate in the Ala Wai Watershed Restoration Project to clean up the area Saturday.

Volunteers will meet at the Ewa end of Waikiki Beach, in the parking lot of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, at 8 a.m.

The volunteers will work until 1 p.m. at one of 14 cleanup and restoration sites throughout the Ala Wai Watershed Project, sponsored by the city Department of Parks and Recreation's TeenClean '98 and Youth for Environmental Service.

To participate, call the TeenClean Hotline at 527-5867.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Man flashes gun while robbing woman at store

Police are searching for a man who robbed a Waikiki business last night.

A man entered Kaimana Pantry on Monsarrat Avenue at 11:05 p.m. and demanded money from a woman working there, police said.

The woman, 57, reported the man had a gun tucked in his pants. The man ran away with an undisclosed amount of money.

Woman booked for cutting boyfriend

A 42-year-old woman is in police custody today for allegedly slashing her boyfriend at their Beretania Street apartment.

The couple were intoxicated and struggling over a knife at their apartment at 3:15 a.m., police said. The woman then slashed the 34-year-old man. She was booked on second-degree assault. The man was treated and released at Queen's Hospital.

Teen wrestles mother, threatens with knife

Police yesterday arrested a 16-year-old Mililani boy for allegedly threatening to kill his mother and two uncles.

During an argument, the boy wrestled his mother, 50, to the floor at about 7:40 a.m., police said.

The boy's uncles, 42 and 45, were able to break up the scuffle and calm him down.

The boy then grabbed two kitchen knives and reportedly threatened them. He was booked on four counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.

Police identify suspect in Waipahu robberies

Police yesterday charged a man in connection with two robberies in June.

Tafiaina Ioane was charged with first-degree robbery and is being held on $100,000 bail, police said.

He is a suspect in the June 13 robbery of a Waipahu Chevron service station and Yama's Fish Market.

Makiki man is charged in sexual assault case

A 33-year-old Makiki man was charged by police in the alleged beating and sexual assault of a 52-year-old woman.

Kenneth Goodale was charged with first and third degree sexual assault, first-degree attempted sexual assault and kidnapping, police said. He is being held in lieu of $160,000 bail.

Moped driver injured by lane-changing van

A 22-year-old man on a moped was critically injured yesterday when he was side-swiped by a van on the Pali Highway.

The van, driven by a 79-year-old Kaimuki man, made a lane change and hit the moped driver at about 2 p.m., police said.

Both drivers were heading toward Kailua.

The moped driver was taken to Queen's Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.