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Fervent Fans Want
Potter's 'Goblet'
Feds want to seize alleged gambling sites
Federal prosecutors have begun legal proceedings to forfeit two Chinatown commercial buildings allegedly used for illegal casino-style gambling.Unsealed civil complaints allege the Minatoya Building at 1152 Maunakea St. and the Kawahara Building at 900 Maunakea St. were used for card games and video gambling machines that took in more than $2,000 a day for several months.
In May, a federal grand jury indicted 27 people in connection with the alleged gambling.
The properties are owned by KRD Inc. and Y.K. Enterprises Inc.
Kim Le Richardson, who prosecutors said has stakes in both corporations, is one of the indicted defendants.
KHON reporter to be gov's spokeswoman
Channel 2 government reporter Kim Murakawa has been named as the new press secretary to Gov. Ben Cayetano.Murakawa is a University of Hawaii graduate who previously worked for the Maui News, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Honolulu Advertiser before joining KHON-TV in 1997.
Jackie Kido, Cayetano's director of communications, said Murakawa, 27, will be paid $60,000.
"She understands state government, has a strong media background and will be a great asset to both our office and the public she serves," Cayetano said.
Murakawa replaces Kathleen Racuya-Markich, who had served as Cayetano's spokeswoman for six years.
American Legion plans 2005 Oahu convention
The American Legion, which lists itself as the world's largest military veterans' organization, will bring an estimated 13,000 people to Hawaii for its annual convention in August 2005.The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, which is responsible for long-term bookings for the Hawai'i Convention Center, said the nine-day meeting should pump $46 million into the Hawaii economy, including $3.8 million in tax revenues.
The American Legion's last convention in Hawaii was in 1981.
The HVCB also said that the American Geophysical Union, a science-sharing organization, will bring 2,000 ocean scientists to meet at the center in February 2002.
Kalanianaole narrows for roadwork Monday
Motorists on Kalanianaole Highway can expect delays Monday because of road construction.Two Ewa-bound lanes of Kalanianaole Highway will be closed between Ainakoa Avenue and Laukahi Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
One Hawaii Kai-bound lane will become an Ewa-bound lane to give drivers two westbound lanes.
Turns into Waiholo and Waikui streets from Kalanianaole Highway will be prohibited for safety reasons.
Concert for Alyshia at Sea Life Park tomorrow
A benefit concert is scheduled tomorrow for Alyshia Shimizu, the 5-year-old girl suffering from necrotizing fasciitis, more commonly known as a "flesh-eating" infection.Island reggae music will be performed by Ten Feet, 3 Plus, Natural Vibrations, Green Light, Soul Free, B.E.T. and One Heart. The concert will be from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sea Life Park.
Admission is $10. Donations will be accepted at Sea Life Park's front entrance. All proceeds from the concert will go to help the Shimizu family. See also: http://www.hawaiisnews.com/alyshia/
Kuakini Health celebration to feature Hapa
Hapa will be among the featured entertainers at Kuakini Health System's 100th anniversary celebration next Saturday on the hospital grounds.The festivities include a health fair, craft fair and bake sale.
The public is invited and parking will be free. The celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Plum invitation
The public is invited to pick plums at Kokee State Park on Kauai during the harvest season, through Aug. 6.But people are advised not to make a special trip just for the plums. The trees, planted at Kokee in the 1930s, have yielded a crop considered extremely poor this year, with many trees bare. A short flowering period was most likely caused by unusual weather.
Permits to harvest may be obtained at Kokee park headquarters. Individuals are allowed up to five pounds of plums per day for personal consumption. Harvesting is permitted between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. in designated areas. The permit lists other conditions.
For more information, call the state parks office in Lihue at 274-3444.
Corrections
A story on Big Island geothermal power yesterday incorrectly said Hawaii Electric Light Co. hopes to have its power plant at Keahole, Kona, completed by 2002. The company actually hopes to have 40 megawatts installed by 2002, with 16 additional megawatts to come later.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Manoa armed-robbery suspect hunted by cops
A woman was robbed and tied up early today in a bedroom in her Manoa home.Police were looking for a man suspected of the armed robbery at 3011 Oahu Ave.
A woman called police at 9:43 a.m. after discovering her mother tied up in an upstairs bedroom, police reported.
The suspect was described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, with dark skin, wearing baggy blue jeans and yellow shoes.
He had a silver handgun.
Police seek attackers of man, 19, in Waikiki
Police were searching for a group of males in connection with an attack on a 19-year-old man this morning in Waikiki.The victim was apparently stabbed during a confrontation between two groups at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor at about 2 a.m., police said.
He was taken to Queen's Hospital in serious condition. No update on his condition was released.
Boy, 15, arrested in Hawaii Kai brush fire
A 15-year-old boy playing with fireworks was arrested and charged yesterday for starting a brush fire in Hawaii Kai that forced the evacuation of dozens of children attending a program at Koko Head District Park.The boy was lighting fireworks when a blaze started in the dry brush at 12:45 p.m., police said.
A witness reported the license plate of the boy's van to police, and he was arrested at Sandy Beach park. Police said the boy told an officer he accidentally set the fire. The blaze scorched two acres before firefighters had it under control.
Fire crews also battled another brush fire about an hour later on Maunalani Heights.
Residents reported hearing fireworks shortly before a fire erupted near Mana Place. The fire was under control in 30 minutes and burned about an acre.
DNA leads to Hilo boy, 17, in three bombings
A 17-year-old Hilo boy has been charged with setting off three bombs on the Big Island -- the Social Security Administration Building on Jan. 6, Ken's House of Pancakes Jan. 11 and Scruffles Restaurant March 29.Forensic analysis of DNA evidence recovered at the scenes by FBI technicians in Washington, D.C., led to the identity of the suspect, officials said.
The boy appeared before a federal magistrate yesterday.
Police ID man drowned near Paradise Park
HILO -- Police have identified a man who drowned in the sea off Paradise Park subdivision July 4 as Irvil Donald Phelps, 57, of Ainaloa.His name had been held pending notification of next of kin.
Firefighters douse last of Volcanoes park fire
VOLCANO -- Big Island fire crews were mopping up the last hot spots remaining from a brush fire that burned 1,000 acres at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park this past week.After securing a 7.7-mile perimeter around the fire earlier in the week, firefighters used 36,000 gallons of water Thursday to douse areas still smoldering.
Light rains helped cool the burn as mop-up efforts continued yesterday.
Meanwhile, the National Park Service reopened the Namakani Paio campground and cabins, which had been closed for one week because of the fire.
The Park Service also advised that Bird Park trail and Kipuka Puaulu picnic area and Tree Molds in Volcanoes National Park were reopened this morning after beeing closed for eight days.
Crews were removing fire-damaged trees near the Kipuka Puaulu picnic shelter as a safety precaution.
The Mauna Loa Road remained closed beyond Kipuka Puaulu due to continuing extreme fire danger.
