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Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, July 16, 1999


Hawaiian convention agenda set

Education about the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the subsequent apology bill and the future of Hawaiian sovereignty will be provided to delegates of the July 31 Native Hawaiian Convention and the public.

The convention's Education and Research Committee based its educational plan on the federal apology bill, also known as Public Law 103-150.

In 1993, President Clinton signed into law the bill apologizing for U.S. participation in the overthrow.

Workshops will discuss some of the provisions of the law. Keoni Agard and Government Committee Chairman Sol Nalua'i will discuss Provisions No. 2 and 3 dealing with the Kingdom of Hawaii at the state Capitol from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow.

A workshop on self-sufficient lifeways will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Capitol. Topics include a mortality study by Mele Look, native Hawaiian epistemology by Manu Meyer and critical indigenous theory by Yuklin Aluli.

Kunani Nihipali and Keoni Agard will moderate the panel discussion Ho'oku'e No. 2 "To Resist!" from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 24 at the Capitol.

Panelists include Lehua Kinilau, Clifford Chee, Bumpy Kanahele, Keanu Sai, Skippy Ioane, A'o Pohaku, Richard Kini and Kaleo Lindsey.

The goal of the Native Hawaiian Convention is to develop a constitution, get it ratified by native Hawaiians and form a new government.

Until the convention delegates reach consensus, they cannot predict what type of government would be preferred.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs had been planning their own Puwalu gathering, a self-determination information sharing meeting, this fall.

However, because the OHA trustees will be concentrating on the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court Case Rice vs. Cayetano, the gathering will be postponed until spring or fall 2000, when they can give it their full attention.



Hawaii 2000


Blaisdell, the man

FOR anyone who's been here for any length of time, odds are good you've been to the Neal Blaisdell Center or concert hall.

But odds also are good that few know much about the facility's namesake.

Yes, he was Honolulu's mayor from 1955-69. But his career was varied, from educator and agriculture executive, to politician.

Born in 1902 in Honolulu, he received a business administration degree from Bucknell University.

He became a teacher and athletic director at McKinley High School, then at Punahou, Roosevelt High and St. Louis College. He went on to work for Bishop Trust Co.'s land department from 1930-1935, then became an executive for Hawaiian Pineapple Co. from 1937-1953.

Blaisdell entered politics in 1944, first in the territorial House, then the Senate. He spent 1953-54 as Public Welfare Department director before becoming mayor the following year, and serving for the next 14 years. He died in 1975.




Ex-election official resigns
from law in lieu of discipline

The Hawaii Supreme Court has granted the request of the former executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission to resign from practicing law in lieu of discipline.

The resignation of Jack M.K. Gonzales is effective Aug. 12.

Gonzales in January 1996 was previously enjoined from practicing law in Hawaii after he was convicted on federal criminal charges.

Gonzales in 1995 began serving 15 years and nine months in prison for conspiring to bilk the Unity House labor organization out of $10 million. He resigned from the commission in 1994.

Attorneys may resign from the state bar in lieu of discipline by acknowledging that they would not prevail if disciplinary proceedings were brought against them.

Resignation from the bar in lieu of discipline is the same as disbarment under the Supreme Court's rules.

Maui seeks exemption as drought persists

WAILUKU -- The Maui County water board has declared an emergency drought for Maui from Kanaia to Haiku, calling for voluntary reduction in water use of 15 percent in addition to the 10 percent decrease already required.

County water director David Craddick has asked Mayor James Apana to help seek an emergency exemption from the state to treat and use two wells at Hamakuapoko contaminated with the chemical DBCP.

Craddick said Gov. Ben Cayetano's declaration of a drought emergency will allow for a waiver of compliance with environmental and procurement rules in order to build the facility to remove the DBCP and use some 1.5 million gallons of water.

Certain life rafts may have been mispacked

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu announced it has evidence of possible improper packing of life rafts by the now defunct Life Support Systems Hawaii.

The safety office says some life rafts between May 1997 and April 1999 were serviced by unqualified service technicians and packed improperly. It recommends that life rafts last serviced by Life Support Systems Hawaii be re-serviced by an approved facility as soon as possible and that any irregularities with the life rafts should be reported immediately to Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu at 522-8253.

Marines will jump from helicopters at Bayfest

A helicopter rescue jump will be performed by Navy and Marine Corps personnel tomorrow afternoon as part of the Marine Corps' "Bayfest 99" celebration. The demonstration will occur at 1 p.m. at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay and will feature Marines jumping from low-flying helicopters.

Sign language festival aims to raise awareness

Talents of deaf and hard-of-hearing residents will be showcased as part of Hawaii's Sign Language Festival from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 14.

Call Kathy Reimers at 926-4763 for more information.

Tapa


Corrections

The Ross Dress for Less store in the former Woolworth site at Hotel Street and Fort Street Mall opens today, with a grand opening celebration next Friday. A business brief yesterday had incorrect information.






Police, Fire, Courts

Police/Fire

By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Woman routs attacker

A woman walking home alone last night fended off a male attacker at Dole Park on Magellan Avenue, police said.

The woman was walking in front of the park when she was forced from the sidewalk at knifepoint at 8:30 p.m., police said. The man dragged her to a fenced area.

The woman struggled, screamed and fought him off.

She then ran home and called police.

The suspect is still on the loose.

Arson blamed in condo fire

Arson was the cause of yesterday's blaze inside a unit at a Makaha condominium, investigators said.

On Wednesday, witnesses heard noise and smelled smoke coming from unit 1306 of the Hawaii Princess Condominium, police said. However, a fire was not detected.

Yesterday, smoke was spotted again coming from the same unit, and a smoldering fire was discovered in the living room at 3 p.m.

The fire was extinguished by fire crews and the unit sustained about $90,000 worth of damage, officials said.

No was hurt and no arrests were made.

One dead in Big Isle wreck

WAIMEA, Hawaii -- One person was killed and two others injured when their car ran off Kohala Mountain Road, hit some trees, and rolled several times last night, police said.

Witnesses said the driver had swerved to avoid a dog.

The dead man was identified as passenger Brad Shimono, 18, of Honomaku, who was thrown from the car.

The driver and a second passenger were admitted to North Kohala Community Hospital, where they were in stable condition.

The three were apparently returning from a hunting trip at the time of the 7:16 p.m. accident, police said.

Marijuana plants seized

HILO -- Police seized 16,356 marijuana plants in the South Hilo and Puna Districts working Monday through yesterday, they said.

No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.


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