Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

Lingle to be temporary GOP convention chair

Republican Gov. Linda Lingle has been named as the temporary chairwoman for the Republican National Convention to be held Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in New York.

Lingle said she will serve as convention chairwoman when House Speaker Dennis Hastert, permanent convention chair, is not on the podium.

Ed Gillespie, GOP National Committee chairman, named Lingle and other convention officers Tuesday.

The appointment means that Lingle will preside over the opening. Gillespie will call the convention to order, then turn the podium over to Lingle, who will preside over the election of the convention's permanent officers.

Lingle told reporters yesterday that she is discussing the possibility of addressing the national convention, but details will not be available until next week.

Bomb scare on Big Isle closes shopping center

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii >> An abandoned briefcase led to a bomb scare and evacuation of the Waikoloa Highlands Shopping Center in West Hawaii for more than four hours yesterday.

But two X-rays done by an Army Explosives Ordnance Disposal team with a portable X-ray machine revealed no bomb, and officials eventually found only "rubbish" inside, Hawaii County Civil Defense said.

At the request of police and fire officials, Civil Defense officials made a radio announcement about the evacuation at 1 p.m.

Police Capt. Chadwick Fukui estimated several hundred people evacuated the shopping center, which consists of a supermarket and more than a dozen small shops and offices.

The all-clear signal was given at 4:37 p.m., Civil Defense said.

Government workers agree to new contract

Some 8,500 custodians, waste-water treatment operators and other blue-collar government workers have ratified a two-year agreement with the state and counties. The deal includes a 7.5 percent pay increase over the life of the contract.

The agreement with the United Public Workers union will cost the state and counties $16.2 million, more than half of which will have to be appropriated by the Legislature next year.

Honolulu will pay $4.2 million, while Maui County will be responsible for $1.2 million. Hawaii and Kauai counties will pay the remaining total of $1.6 million.

Workers will not see the pay increase, which is retroactive to the contract's start date in July 2003, until the Legislature and County Councils approve it.

At a news conference at the Capitol yesterday, UPW state Director Dayton Nakanelua said that 96 percent of union members who participated in the ratification vote were in favor of the agreement.

[Taking Notice]

>> Frank Stewart and Nora Okja Keller have been selected as the 2002 and 2003 recipients, respectively, of the Hawaii Award for Literature, the highest recognition given by the State of Hawaii for outstanding literary achievement. The awards are co-sponsored by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Hawaii Literary Arts Council.

Stewart has published more than a dozen books, edited journals in Hawaii, and was awarded the prestigious Whiting Writers Award in New York in 1986.

Keller, a former Star-Bulletin writer, is the author of two novels, including "Comfort Women," which received national acclaim. She also co-edited two Bamboo Ridge anthologies, and has written short stories and essays about life in Hawaii.

>> Hiroko DeLeon and Takako Dickinson are the recipients of the Maui Matsuri's Award of Excellence. They were selected for their dedication and commitment to Japanese language teaching and the promotion and perpetuation of the Japanese culture on Maui.
>> Elaine Yamashita, associate professor and Human Services Program coordinator at Maui Community College in Kahului, has been elected to the governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

"Taking Notice" also runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

WAIKIKI

Fire forces evacuation of 200 condo residents

A small lanai fire caused by discarded smoking material forced the evacuation of 200 residents from a Waikiki condominium early yesterday.

Firefighters were called to the Inn on the Park, 1920 Ala Moana, about 3:53 a.m. They found a fire on the lanai of an apartment on the 22nd floor and quickly had it under control.

The residents were allowed to return about 20 minutes later. Damage was estimated at $1,000.

HONOLULU

Men posing as police rob gambling woman

Police are searching for two men who allegedly identified themselves as police and then robbed a 59-year-old woman gambling in a Keeaumoku Street apartment Tuesday night.

Police said the suspects entered the apartment, told the woman they were police and then took cell phones and cash at about 8:30 p.m.

Police did not specify how many people were gambling in the apartment at the time of the robbery.

When the men fled, the woman chased them, police said. One of the suspects then pulled out a handgun and struck the back of her head with it, police said.

The suspects then fled in a silver sedan.

LEEWARD OAHU

Victim hit and killed by bus is identified

The Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman who died after being hit by a city bus last Thursday as Jessie B. Wilpolt of Wahiawa.

Police said Wilpolt, 54, was hit as she ran across Kamehameha Highway near Lehua Avenue in Pearl City about 10:52 p.m. She died Friday at the Queen's Medical Center.

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

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Newswatch Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff and wire Lingle to be temporary GOP convention chair Republican Gov. Linda Lingle has been named as the temporary chairwoman for the Republican National Convention to be held Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in New York. Lingle said she will serve as convention chairwoman when House Speaker Dennis Hastert, permanent convention chair, is not on the podium. Ed Gillespie, GOP National Committee chairman, named Lingle and other convention officers Tuesday. The appointment means that Lingle will preside over the opening. Gillespie will call the convention to order, then turn the podium over to Lingle, who will preside over the election of the convention's permanent officers. Lingle told reporters yesterday that she is discussing the possibility of addressing the national convention, but details will not be available until next week. Bomb scare on Big Isle closes shopping center WAIKOLOA, Hawaii >> An abandoned briefcase led to a bomb scare and evacuation of the Waikoloa Highlands Shopping Center in West Hawaii for more than four hours yesterday. But two X-rays done by an Army Explosives Ordnance Disposal team with a portable X-ray machine revealed no bomb, and officials eventually found only "rubbish" inside, Hawaii County Civil Defense said. At the request of police and fire officials, Civil Defense officials made a radio announcement about the evacuation at 1 p.m. Police Capt. Chadwick Fukui estimated several hundred people evacuated the shopping center, which consists of a supermarket and more than a dozen small shops and offices. The all-clear signal was given at 4:37 p.m., Civil Defense said. Government workers agree to new contract Some 8,500 custodians, waste-water treatment operators and other blue-collar government workers have ratified a two-year agreement with the state and counties. The deal includes a 7.5 percent pay increase over the life of the contract. The agreement with the United Public Workers union will cost the state and counties $16.2 million, more than half of which will have to be appropriated by the Legislature next year. Honolulu will pay $4.2 million, while Maui County will be responsible for $1.2 million. Hawaii and Kauai counties will pay the remaining total of $1.6 million. Workers will not see the pay increase, which is retroactive to the contract's start date in July 2003, until the Legislature and County Councils approve it. At a news conference at the Capitol yesterday, UPW state Director Dayton Nakanelua said that 96 percent of union members who participated in the ratification vote were in favor of the agreement. BACK TO TOP \| [Taking Notice] >> Frank Stewart and Nora Okja Keller have been selected as the 2002 and 2003 recipients, respectively, of the Hawaii Award for Literature, the highest recognition given by the State of Hawaii for outstanding literary achievement. The awards are co-sponsored by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Hawaii Literary Arts Council. Stewart has published more than a dozen books, edited journals in Hawaii, and was awarded the prestigious Whiting Writers Award in New York in 1986. Keller, a former Star-Bulletin writer, is the author of two novels, including "Comfort Women," which received national acclaim. She also co-edited two Bamboo Ridge anthologies, and has written short stories and essays about life in Hawaii. >> Hiroko DeLeon and Takako Dickinson are the recipients of the Maui Matsuri's Award of Excellence. They were selected for their dedication and commitment to Japanese language teaching and the promotion and perpetuation of the Japanese culture on Maui. >> Elaine Yamashita, associate professor and Human Services Program coordinator at Maui Community College in Kahului, has been elected to the governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. "Taking Notice" also runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Police, Fire, Courts By Star-Bulletin staff WAIKIKI Fire forces evacuation of 200 condo residents A small lanai fire caused by discarded smoking material forced the evacuation of 200 residents from a Waikiki condominium early yesterday. Firefighters were called to the Inn on the Park, 1920 Ala Moana, about 3:53 a.m. They found a fire on the lanai of an apartment on the 22nd floor and quickly had it under control. The residents were allowed to return about 20 minutes later. Damage was estimated at $1,000. HONOLULU Men posing as police rob gambling woman Police are searching for two men who allegedly identified themselves as police and then robbed a 59-year-old woman gambling in a Keeaumoku Street apartment Tuesday night. Police said the suspects entered the apartment, told the woman they were police and then took cell phones and cash at about 8:30 p.m. Police did not specify how many people were gambling in the apartment at the time of the robbery. When the men fled, the woman chased them, police said. One of the suspects then pulled out a handgun and struck the back of her head with it, police said. The suspects then fled in a silver sedan. LEEWARD OAHU Victim hit and killed by bus is identified The Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman who died after being hit by a city bus last Thursday as Jessie B. Wilpolt of Wahiawa. Police said Wilpolt, 54, was hit as she ran across Kamehameha Highway near Lehua Avenue in Pearl City about 10:52 p.m. She died Friday at the Queen's Medical Center. Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —