City Council members are questioning the use of $11.9 million in federal funds to make the controversial Ewa Village Revitalization Project show a profit. Funds for Ewa Village
project questionedCouncilman Duke Bainum said the Community Development Block Grant or "taxpayers'" money could be used for several special projects, such as the homeless.
"It's trying to make the best out of a bad situation," Bainum said, adding that he has to see an audit before making a judgment on the rest of the plan.
City Housing Director Bob Agres said the housing project obtained the funds because it was "ready to move," while others still are being developed.
"The CDBG funds went to exactly what it was to be used for," Agres said.
Mayor Jeremy Harris yesterday remained optimistic about plans for the project, although 69 percent of the homes in the area have not been sold.
Only 137 units have been sold or reserved for $56.8 million. Another 198 units remain for sale for about $29 million.
The project's primary goals are to provide affordable housing for current residents, mostly sugar workers, and to preserve the historic character of the area, Harris said.
Seventy-one Hawaii high school seniors have been named semifinalists of the 1998 National Merit Scholarship competition. 71 isle students named
Merit Scholarship semifinalistsThirty-one are from Iolani, 22 from Punahou, five from other private schools and 13 from public schools.
Iolani headmaster Val Iwashita is elated that 31 students -- or 14 percent of 223 seniors at Iolani -- made the semifinals this year. But he said test results should not be an indicator that one school is better than another.
"Obviously our mission is to prepare students for college and we attract students very much interested in pursuing college," he said. "Our mission is considerably different from another school with a broader population and focus."
Semifinalist list
Iolani: Adrienne Ancheta, Kenin Coloma, Tiffany Fujioka, Nicholas Ho, Traci Ho, Christopher Holcomb, Jason Imada, David Ishikawa, Jonathan Kam, Kristen Kawachi, Robin Klevansky, Mariel Kusano, Nicholas Lezak, Justin Li, Makamae Masuda, Wesley Masuda, Jennifer McCoy, Megan Nakashima, Aaron Namba, Yuko Okado, Jill Ono, Marcy Osedo, Michael Ragudo, Meghann Schroers, Blake Smith, Aimee Suetsugu, Derik Tamanaha, Paul Virdone, Tan Mau Wu, Kristine Yamaki, Lynn Yamaoka.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said yesterday that House-Senate conferees approved $1.6 million to augment techniques to control the brown tree snake and prevent its introduction to Hawaii. More money approved
for tree snake fightThe funding is double the amount provided last year and nearly triple the funding of previous years.
"I am most pleased that the conferees recognized the brown tree snake is a major threat to the biodiversity of the Pacific region and other areas at risk," Inouye said.
Separately, the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program is in line for $750,000, thanks to an agreement by a House-Senate conference, Inouye said.
Historical and cultural significance of Polynesian voyaging will be highlighted.
The University of Hawaii is delaying tuition payments for spring semester so students can qualify for federal tax credits. UH tuition collection
delayed for tax creditsThe federal Hope Scholarship tax credit takes effect for tuition paid on or after Jan. 1, 1998, the university said. UH normally requires payment in December for spring semester classes that start in January.
Students can claim up to $1,500 of tuition as a tax credit against 1998 federal income taxes. The credit applies only to a student in the first two years of college who takes at least six credits a term.
Those not qualifying for the tax break can apply for a Lifetime Learning Tax Credit that allows for a credit of $1,000 a year. That applies for tuition paid after June 30, 1998.
Residents of the Northern Marianas Islands should be allowed to vote on whether their government should become independent or remain a United States commonwealth, according to a congressional resolution introduced by Hawaii Rep. Patsy T. Mink. Mink sponsors bill
for Marianas voteMink drafted the resolution in response to a stand by the governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas that he would seek independence rather than comply with U.S. laws.
At issue is the minimum wage law and fair treatment of foreign workers.
Thousands of foreign workers are brought into the island nation to work in factories and warehouses for low wages and terrible working conditions, Mink said.
"The people of the Northern Marianas should be given a choice," she said in a news release. "If they want to be U.S. citizens, then they must comply with our laws. If not, they can vote to become an independent nation."
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPolice arrested a 23-year-old man this morning after he allegedly assaulted a police officer in Chinatown. Police officer assaulted;
23-year-old arrestedShortly after midnight, police were escorting two men from a bar near Friendship Park, at Bethel and Hotel streets, when one man used his elbow to punch the officer in the face, police said.
The officer suffered minor injuries to his face and teeth.
Police are looking for a man who robbed a Pearl City gas station last night. Pearl City gas station
robbed by man with knifePolice said at 9:15 p.m., a large man walked into Holiday Action Gas station at Pearl City Shopping Center and demanded money as he pulled a knife on the cashier.
The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money. Police said he was seen driving a yellow station wagon.
Police arrested a Waimanalo woman yesterday for suspicion of child abuse. Mother arrested
on suspicion of abuseAt 3:15 p.m., the woman brought her 6-year-old daughter to the Waimanalo Health Center for treatment.
The child was treated and released for minor injuries, but the mother was later arrested after health workers suspected she had beat her child with a 30-inch metal bat, police said.
Police are seeking charges against a 50-year-old man who allegedly raped a 28-year-old woman early Monday at Pier 41. Charges sought against
man accused of rapePolice said that shortly after midnight the victim, a parking lot attendant, was attacked by the suspect, a Japanese national who worked on a fishing boat.
HILO -- Police have identified an 84-year-old man whose body was found at the Boiling Pots area of the Wailuku River Friday as Alfred Holworthy of a Wailuku Drive address. Body of man in river
identified by authoritiesHolworthy was found face down in a pool of water. An autopsy showed he drowned, police said.
He had not been seen in a week. Police and Fire Rescue personnel found him by following a trail to a cliff overlooking the river where he dumped yard cuttings.
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