2003
The Year In Pictures
GEORGE F. LEE / DEC. 7, 2003
President George Bush visits the inner sanctum of the Arizona Memorial and places a wreath to honor those killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack. CLICK FOR LARGE
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NEWS » THE YEAR'S TOP 5 STORIES
1 » Teamsters strike against Oahu Transit Services Inc., the private company that runs TheBus system for the city. The strike inconveniences tens of thousands of bus riders and alters rush-hour commutes for hundreds of thousands of residents.
2 » Kamehameha Schools' first CEO, Hamilton McCubbin, resigns in May amid allegations of an improper relationship with a female employee. In the summer, the trust is hit by two lawsuits by non-Hawaiian students challenging its Hawaiians-only preference system for admission, and the schools' administration has to deal with three separate allegations of sexual misconduct by students on campus.
3 » In November, 8,000 soldiers at Schofield Barracks learn they will be deployed overseas. About 4,500 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division are scheduled to leave for Iraq early in the year. Later, 3,500 soldiers from the 25th Division's 3rd Brigade will head to Afghanistan for a year.
4 » On Halloween morning, 13-year-old surfing phenomenon Bethany Hamilton loses her left arm to an estimated 13-foot shark off Kauai's North Shore. After a short recovery period, Bethany goes on a national media blitz.
5 » Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona leads a statewide effort to focus attention on the impact of the illegal drug crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," on all aspects of isle society. A series of community meetings culminates with a three-day, private drug summit in Waikiki.
DENNIS ODA / NOV. 19, 2003
Bethany Hamilton retells her story about how a shark bit off her arm while surfing. Her father, Tom Hamilton, sits next to the 13-year-old and listens intently like it was the first time he heard about the attack on Halloween morning.
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BUSINESS » THE YEAR'S TOP 5 STORIES
1 » Hawaiian Airlines files for bankruptcy, and its fortunes now rest in the hands of the former chief executive officer of the Sept. 11th Fund. How that transpired could be the basis for a movie, but as one attorney commented during a court hearing, who would have believed such a script?
2 » Central Pacific Financial Corp.'s unsolicited takeover attempt of CB Bancshares Inc. doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone as far as drama is concerned. Central Pacific Bank's parent, eager to grow by gobbling up its downtown rival, takes its offer public in April after City Bank's parent ignores CPF's overtures.
DENNIS ODA / MAY 22, 2003
The Arrizon family, from California, waves their hats in unison to welcome Fernando Arrizon to Hawaii aboard the USS Constellation. The aircraft carrier pulled into Pearl Harbor for a five-day stopover before heading to its home port in San Diego. From left are wife Christina Arrizon, family members Charles Arrizon, Norma Jaureju, Angela Arrizon, Anna Melendez and Felix Melendez. CLICK FOR LARGE
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3 » The December sale of the Damon Estate, one of the highest-valued properties in Hawaii, will give a Massachusetts company control of a collection of commercial property on Oahu rich in development opportunity. The $480 million deal with HRPT Properties Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, leaves real estate analysts and rents of the leasehold land in Mapunapuna and Moanalua speculating on what will become of the properties.
4 » For people looking to buy, sell or refinance a home, continuing low mortgage rates help Hawaii's residential real estate remain the hot topic of conversation throughout 2003. Residential real estate developers dust off plans for long-stalled new home projects while home resales grow month over month during 2003.
5 » Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson Ltd. confirms the sale of its six TheoDavies Euromotors car dealerships for $100 million in October. Reed/Jones Acquisition HI LLC, a partnership of two mainland dealers, is the buyer.
RICHARD WALKER / DEC. 5, 2003
Kahuku High School celebrates its state championship victory over Saint Louis School at Aloha Stadium. CLICK FOR LARGE
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SPORTS » THE YEAR'S TOP 5 STORIES
1 » Only 13 at the time, Michelle Wie is in the last threesome of the final round at the LPGA Tour's first major tournament of the year. An apt comparison would be a young Tiger Woods atop the leaderboard entering the final round of the Masters.
2 » Jerome Williams becomes only the fourth rookie pitcher for the San Francisco Giants to start a postseason game, and the first since Cliff Melton started two in the 1937 World Series.
3 » The University of Hawaii men's volleyball coach, Mike Wilton, will not remember the summer of 2003 with a great deal of fondness. The school self-reports that star player Costas Theocharidis played in games with European pros prior to his arrival to the Manoa campus. As a result, an NCAA committee strips UH men's program of its 2002 national title.
4 » The Kahuku Red Raiders complete an unbeaten football season with a stunning come-from-behind 27-26 win over rival Saint Louis to win the Division I championship.
5 » UH football coach June Jones signs a five-year, $4 million contract. Those who believe in him and what he has accomplished since inheriting an 0-12 football program in 1998 say the money is right. Those who point to problems that plague this program on and off the field say it is a waste of hard-earned cash.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / NOV. 11, 2003
To prepare for a year-long deployment to Iraq, soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division train for urban warfare. Here, a soldier stands guard over some soldiers dressed as Iraqi civilians. CLICK FOR LARGE
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FEATURES » THE YEAR'S TOP 5 STORIES
1 » Tom Moffatt continues to reign as Hawaii's top concert promoter, and his aptly titled "Rock 'n' Roll Super Show" with rock superstars Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis in Blaisdell Arena is the year's biggest and most significant concert.
2 » The most notable big concerts are the Brothers Cazimero May Day concert at the Waikiki Shell in May and the Makaha Sons' "Take a Walk in the Country" extravaganza in Makaha in June.
3 » The local record industry bounces back a bit despite illegal "burning." Almost 200 new titles are released in 2003. Record producer Shawn Pimental is the big winner at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in May as his act Na Palapalai and Three Plus win seven Hokus between them.
GEORGE F. LEE / MAY 25, 2003
Candles are raised in honor of those killed in the Middle East as helicopters fly in a "missing man formation" during the candle-light ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. CLICK FOR LARGE
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4 » Diamond Head Theatre's spring production of "Follies" wins in six categories at the 20th Annual Po'okela Awards in July. Manoa Valley Theatre's whimsical "Honk!" ties with DHT's "Chicago" for second place with four each. DHT wins a total of 14 awards; MVT, 10; and the Actors Group, seven.
5 » Weekly and monthly events continue to proliferate. Russell Tanoue's monthly "Piranha Room" parties draw overflow crowds to the Ocean Club. Elsewhere, Justin Yoshino makes "Feng Shui" a success at Ciao Mein, and he then partners with G-Spot and Blaise Sato to make it a weekly event in December. Flash Hansen launches "I" at Studio 1 with Russ and SubZero and Gdog in July. Flash and G-Spot join forces with Matty Boy and KomoLow to present the Star Bar at Longhi's.