Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, July 15, 1997

Diamond Head fee
gets some backing

Tourists and residents said yesterday they would support Gov. Ben Cayetano's plan to charge an entrance fee to Diamond Head crater.

But their approval was conditional. It depends on how much is charged and whether locals don't have to pay or are charged less than tourists.

The reaction from the hikers came shortly after Cayetano disclosed his plan for an as yet unspecified user fee for the world-famous landmark.

Cayetano is pushing for improvements to the Diamond Head State Monument park.

He recently released $1 million for the planning and design of a $10 million to $15 million park visitor center, $275,000 for the design and construction of an information center booth at the park's entrance and $340,000 for trail and lookout improvements.

His vision for Diamond Head, Cayetano said, includes a botanical garden inside the crater.

Kaneshiro: Arrest of Maui guards
shows need for drug tests

WAILUKU -- State Public Safety Director Keith Kaneshiro says the arrest of Maui prison guards points out the need for random drug testing of not only inmates, but also the correctional staff.

"To have an effective drug-free facility, you need random drug testing of both staff and inmates," Kaneshiro said.

Kaneshiro said the state is negotiating with unions for random drug testing for correctional staff.

The state already conducts random drug testing among inmates.

Three Maui prison guards, a former guard and an inmate were arrested yesterday afternoon, following an investigation into drugs and contraband brought into the correctional facility.

"All cases involved crystal meth, some had coke," said Maui police Capt. Paul Winters, head of the vice section."They ranged from gram quantities to larger fractions of an ounce and more." Winters described the guards as friends with each other but acting somewhat independent of each other.

Charged with promoting dangerous drugs and prohibited acts relating to drug paraphernalia were prison guards Anthony Sardine, 40; Gordon Kahalehau, 27, and former guard Dion Ruidas, 27.

The arrest followed indictments of the men Friday by a Maui grand jury.

Prison guard Genaro Alipio, 52, was charged with two counts of attempting to promote prison contraband. Inmate Chad Valoroso, 32, who is serving a five-year sentence for theft, was charged with attempting to promote prison contraband.

Oahu vote authorizes
ILWU strike

The temperature in waterfront labor negotiations was raised another degree yesterday with a strike authorization vote by Oahu members of Local 142 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

The votes of neighbor island employees of Young Brothers Ltd. will be counted Thursday after meetings on five other islands, but the Oahu vote already represents the required majority to authorize negotiators to declare a strike.

The units have the choice of taking a secret ballot, but Oahu members opted for a roll-call vote last night at the union hall.

There are 108 of the union employees on Oahu.

All 96 of those who attended the meeting voted yes.

"It sure sends a powerful message," said ILWU President Eusebio "Bobo" Lapenia. He said that before any strike would actually be called, the bargaining team would bring the company's final offer back to the membership.

Talks broke off July 2 and no meetings have been scheduled, he said.

Tripler soldier pleads guilty
in Internet child porn case

A Tripler Army Hospital soldier who said he didn't know it was illegal to transmit sexually explicit images of minors over the Internet has pleaded guilty to transmitting such images last year.

James A. Miller II, the first person prosecuted in Hawaii by the federal government for the felony offense, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Oct. 20.

Miller, 37, a warrant officer and food safety expert, yesterday admitted he had sent 10 sexually explicit images March 27, including some of minors and one of a minor in bondage.

As part of changing his plea from not guilty, Miller waived his right against self-incrimination, saying, "I've been fully cooperative up until now and will continue to do so."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Tong said he expects Miller's sentence will include a prison term, not just probation.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.

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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Pole blocks Ala Moana
traffic this morning

A car hit and knocked down a telephone pole this morning, closing all the lanes on Ala Moana Boulevard in the Koko Head direction, police said.

There were no serious injuries in the one-car accident that occurred this morning shortly before 5 a.m. fronting Ward Centre.

Neighbors chase down
Kinau robbery suspect

Police yesterday charged a 22-year-old man, with no local address, with robbing and burglarizing a man's home.

Police said on Sunday night, a 61-year-old man returned to his Kinau Street home after visiting a neighbor to find the suspect, Samual Patinio, rummaging through his dresser drawers.

Police said Patinio grabbed a watch and a electronic spell checker and pushed the man down to the floor.

Two of the victim's neighbors, a 42-year-old man and 22-year-old man, chased the suspect and caught him near the police station at the corner of Beretania and Alapai streets.

Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:

• Man arrested after pulling knife at bar
• Three inmates escape from Kulani facility
• Mililani girl, 8, gets finger caught in pool spout

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.