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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Events mark King holiday
Several events are planned in Hawaii to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. On Sunday a candlelight bell-ringing ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Nagasaki Peace Bell on the Honolulu Hale civic grounds. The ceremony will be followed by a torchlight march to Iolani Palace. On Monday, the federal holiday, a parade is set to begin at 9 a.m. from Magic Island to Kapiolani Park. The parade is followed by a unity rally at 11 a.m. For more events and information, go to
www.mlk-hawaii.com.
Applicants still sought for ethics panel seat
The state Judicial Council is still accepting applications for a vacant seat on the state Ethics Commission.
Former member Boyd McCleary left the seat, and applications will be accepted through Jan. 31. The successful applicant will fill McCleary's term, which ends June 30, 2010.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Hawaii residents and not hold another public office. The commission regulates ethics of all legislators, lobbyists and state employees except judges, who are governed by a judicial conduct commission.
Applications, along with a resume and three recommendation letters, are due Jan. 31 at the Judicial Council second-floor office at Supreme Court. Forms are available online at www.courts.state.hi.us.
Kauai lawyer resigns from isle law practice
Heidi M. Rodgers, an attorney in Hanalei, Kauai, has resigned from the practice of law in Hawaii in lieu of discipline, according to an Office of Disciplinary Counsel news release.
Rodgers' resignation is similar to disbarment under the rules of the Hawaii Supreme Court, who granted Rodgers' request to resign.
Rodgers will not be allowed to practice law in Hawaii and cannot accept retainers, clients or legal matters until reinstatement by the Supreme Court. She must return all unearned retainers and files to her clients, the news release said.
The 44-year-old graduate of Stetson University was admitted to the Hawaii bar in 1997.
Japanese center holds annual New Year fest
The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii will usher in 2007's Year of the Boar with its annual New Year's Ohana Festival on Sunday.
Admission is free, and the event -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center and Moiliili Field -- is open to the public. The center's motto and this year's festival theme is "Honoring our heritage. Embracing our diversity. Sharing our future."
Scrip for food and other activities must be purchased. Activities will include the sale of international cuisine, entertainment, cultural art displays and demonstrations, a craft fair and a book sale.
A complimentary shuttle service will run from the Dole Street parking structure at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to the center throughout the day. Parking will be free at UH.
For more information, call JCCH at 945-7633, or e-mail info@jcch.com.
SHINING STARS
Michelle Kuamoo joins KCAA Preschools of Hawaii
Michelle Kuamoo has joined KCAA Preschools of Hawaii as vice president of programs. She will oversee accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young children and National Early Childhood Program Accreditation for KCAA's seven preschools.
Constantine Bolo, a junior at Lanai High School, won a bronze medal for a photo essay that he produced and entered in the 2006 TRIO Quest national competition. His essay was entitled "Sweetheart Rock," which describes the legend behind a Lanai landmark of the same name. He joined the competition as a participant in Maui Community College's Upward Bound 2006 summer residential program.
The University of Hawaii-Manoa Center for Chinese Studies presented the annual Chung-Fong and Grace Ning Fund scholarship awards to these graduate students and faculty members:
Poul Andersen, associate professor of religion; Chung-Ying Cheng, professor of philosophy; Pingli Wang, Ph.D. student in East Asian languages and literature; Xiaojun Wang, associate professor of economics; Haiming Wen, Ph.D. student, philosophy; and Kate Zhou, associate professor of political science.
Hawaii Literacy was given $7,500 by the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation to support the group's Classroom on Wheels project, a traveling library and classroom. The Bookmobile operates on the Waianae Coast to provide residents with free access to books, educational materials and literacy services.
"Shining Stars" runs Monday through Thursday.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Second driver killed in crash is identified
Police have identified the second driver killed Sunday from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Queen Kaahumanu Highway 0.8 miles south of the 94-mile marker.
He was identified as Albizu Lebron, 34, of Kailua-Kona.
The crash was reported at 2:59 a.m.
Kona patrol officers determined that a 1995 Jeep multipurpose vehicle was traveling north on the highway when it overtook another vehicle in a no-passing zone and collided head-on with a 1992 Mitsubishi two-door sedan traveling south. Lebron was driving the Mitsubishi.
Fire rescue personnel took both drivers to Kona Community Hospital, where they were pronounced dead at 5:09 a.m.
A 21-year-old passenger in the Jeep was treated and released from the hospital.
The driver of the Jeep was identified as Richard B. Walsh, 23, of Kailua-Kona. He was not wearing a seat belt.
Police said they believe speed and alcohol use by Walsh contributed to the crash.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent-homicide, coroner's inquest and negligent-injury case and have ordered autopsies to determine exact cause of death.
The deaths are the first and second traffic fatalities on the Big Island this year compared with none at this time last year.
Rescuers search for lost opihi picker
Rescuers were unable to locate a missing opihi picker yesterday near Onomea on the Big Island.
Police received a call Sunday reporting Leslie Delo Santos, 57, of Onomea missing. His family said they realized he was missing Sunday and searched the area near his home. They found his personal belongings at a fishing spot called "Diablo," mauka of the Onomea cemetery.
Delo Santos was last seen by a neighbor last Tuesday on the Onomea Scenic Route.
The Hawaii Fire Department conducted an air and ground search yesterday.
Police ask anyone with information about Delo Santos' whereabouts to call officer Grant Todd at 961-2213 or the Police Department's nonemergency number at 935-3311.