Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, October 15, 1998

Trustee’s brother-in-law
testifies on condo deal

Star-Bulletin staff and wire

A brother-in-law of Bishop Estate trustee Richard "Dickie" Wong went before an Oahu grand jury investigating the Bishop Estate yesterday.

Jeffrey Stone, whose sister Mari is married to Wong, apparently testified about a Hawaii Kai deal with the Bishop Estate known as Kalele Kai.

Attorney General Margery Bronster has said Stone's company received a sweetheart deal when it bought the fee interest to the 229-unit condominium project from the estate in 1995.

Bronster alleged that Wong and fellow trustee Henry Peters later received kickbacks from Stone as a result of the deal.

Stone and a company controlled by a business associate paid inflated prices for the two trustees' Makiki condominiums, Bronster said.

Stone said outside the grand jury room that there was no sweetheart deal and that everything was done above board.

Stone's attorney, Birney Bervar, said the attorney general's office didn't understand a complicated real estate transaction.

Both Wong and Peters have denied allegations of receiving kickbacks.

The grand jury also heard from developer Bill Mills, who previously attempt to buy the project.

Bishop Estate Archive

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Man hurt in Aiea house fire;
boy, woman escape

By Jaymes Song, Star-Bulletin

A 28-year-old man was injured in a house fire this morning in Aiea, officials said. A woman and a child got out safely.

The man and woman were baby-sitting their friend's 12-year-old son, Pearl City police said. The mother of the son told fire officials she went down the street to a friend's house to shower, and returned after the fire broke out. The mother and child were homeless and staying with the two adults at the house at 99-042 Ieie Place, fire officials said.

One of the women told police a candle they had used probably started the fire, said Officer Melvin Chastain. The injured man was taken to Straub Hospital, where he was being treated for first and second degree burns on both hands and right ear.

A man who identified himself as the owner said the nine-bedroom house, complete with a cockfighting ring and bleachers installed by a previous owner, has been on the market for $300,000 for a year. He said there was no furniture, water or electricity in the house, and he didn't know anyone was living there.

The couple staying in the house said they thought they had permission to be there, police said.

Stuart Hoppel, a neighbor, said he knew the home was for sale but saw groups of people going in and out regularly.

Big Island volunteers weeding out miconia pest

HILO -- Volunteers fighting aggressive, nonnative miconia trees made a significant dent in the heart of the infestation at Onomea in August and September, they announced.

Fifty-six volunteers, age 11 to over 65, participated in eight field control events in a 21-acre area along Onomea Scenic Drive north of Hilo, the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board announced.

Joining with development board volunteers for the Big Island Melastome Action Committee were employees -- working without pay -- of the Hawaii Electric Light Co., Jacunski's Complete Tree Service and Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

Miconias are part of a family of plants called melastomes. In all, 15,250 trees, many of them 50 feet tall, were treated with poison, the development board said.

City-built racks to clear Waikiki streets urged

Passage of a bill to restrict publication-dispensing racks in Waikiki is the best available option, says one hotel executive.

Testifying yesterday before the City Council in support of Bill 109, Max Sword of Outrigger Hotels said not passing the measure and having all publications removed would result in a long and costly court battle.

"In the meantime, the sidewalks would continue to be cluttered and ugly," Sword said.

"The second option is to pass this bill, which institutes controls on the publication enclosures, but yet would not eliminate the option of a court fight for those who want to pursue the removal of the enclosures."

The bill yesterday passed second reading and was referred back to the Executive Matters and Economic Development Committee, which meets a week from today.

The bill calls for the city to construct publication-dispensing "enclosures" at 65 Waikiki locations "to protect the health, safety and welfare of pedestrians and preserve the aesthetics of the area."

Two of nine people who testified yesterday opposed the bill.

City Council votes to establish video monitoring program

The city's video surveillance program could be up and running in Chinatown and Waikiki in as little as four weeks, police and other officials say.

The City Council yesterday voted unanimously to approve a bill establishing a video monitoring program for designated areas of the island.

Under the program, civilian volunteers will monitor the cameras from police substations for suspicious activity and then alert uniformed officers about possible crimes.

The two regions have long been known for illegal activities, including drug trafficking, prostitution and purse snatching, officials said.

City transportation officials say the cameras, made by Sensormatic, have already been set up. Police say they now are in the process of screening and training volunteers.

Big Island hospital gets high rating

WAIMEA, Hawaii -- Based on patients' comments, a hospital survey company has named the Big Island's private, nonprofit North Hawaii Community Hospital the best in the nation with fewer than 350 beds.

The 50-bed hospital won a Best-in-Class Consumer Satisfaction Award for "total process," Solution Point company of Dallas, Texas, informed the hospital.

The hospital also won top awards among small hospitals for housekeeping and food services.

North Hawaii spokeswoman Susan Pueschel said every patient is given a 75-question survey. About half fill it out.

The main purpose is to get feedback, she said. Solution Point serves about 250 hospitals.

Former Rep. Heftel backs campaign reform

Former U.S. Rep. Cecil Heftel has given $5,000 to Hawaii Clean Elections, an isle group advocating campaign finance reform.

He also promises an additional $5,000 to match contributions from other donors, the group has announced.

Heftel, a Democrat who represented urban Honolulu for 10 years before losing his gubernatorial bid in 1986, is now a Las Vegas businessman.

He has written a book, "End Legalized Bribery: An Ex-Congressman's Proposal to Clean Up Congress," and is also on the honorary advisory board of Hawaii Clean Elections.

The group advocates public financing for candidates who eschew contributions from private donors, agree to spending limits and can prove they have a base of support.

Marine injured while repairing helicopter

A 20-year-old Kaneohe Marine Corps lance corporal is in guarded condition today at Queen's Medical Center where he was taken after being injured while performing maintenance on a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter.

Lance Cpl. Peter Lyons, of Denmark, Wis., was injured yesterday when the helicopter's nose landing gear strut collapsed at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base hangar 101.

He was taken by Army medevac helicopter to Queen's following the 1 p.m. accident.

He is a member of Marine Heavy Helicopter squadron 362, a component of 1st Marine Air Wing, Aviation Support Element.

Council unanimously backs Lee for No. 2 job

Ben Lee has won unanimous approval from the City Council to be Mayor Jeremy Harris' managing director, despite questions raised by Council members.

Lee, 53, has been acting managing director since Bob Fishman left in June to become a Hawaiian Airlines vice president.

Lee, an architect, has been chief of staff and deputy managing director during Harris' four years as mayor, which had put him third-in-command during that period.

Some Council members expressed worry that Lee in the past has been known to micromanage issues. That concern has been allayed with their dealings with him in recent months, they said.

Five added to suit over lease conversion

Add five names to the number of Kuapa Isle lessees who want to take Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate to court over lease-to-fee conversion prices.

The City Council voted 8-1 to include the names in an impending lawsuit that would require both the estate and lessees of the Hawaii Kai subdivision to abide by a jury's decision on how much the fee interests should sell for.

The group of 39 lessees charge Bishop Estate has sought unreasonable prices for the fee interests.

The estate and other landowners say government is taking away their property rights for the good of a select few.

Twin-tower project wins approval again

Developers of a twin-tower project in downtown Honolulu have received a lease and development agreement from the City Council -- a second time.

The Council last month gave approval for the project, but members were later informed by city attorneys that the development and lease agreements weren't attached to the approved draft legislation. So the Council gave the 9-0 approval again yesterday.

Planned on the site are 913 affordable apartment units in the area bound by Pali Highway, South Beretania, Queen Emma and Kukui streets.

Kalihi Street lane will close tomorrow

The makai-bound right lane of Kalihi Street will close tomorrow from North King Street to Dillingham Boulevard. The 7 p.m.-to-1 a.m. closing will allow city crews to reroute a water main. Motorists are urged to use extra caution in driving through the work area.

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

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Cops, drug agents seize pot plants above Hilo

HILO -- Police, Drug Enforcement Administration agents and National Guard personnel seized 8,673 marijuana plants growing in the Saddle Road area above Hilo yesterday, police said. There were no arrests or incidents.

Victim of fiery car crash ID'd as Waimea woman

KAILUA-KONA -- Police have identified a woman whose body was found burned in her car following an accident on Mamalahoa Highway Tuesday as Mechelle H. Carvalho, 41, of Waimea.

Carvalho's car had crossed the center line and hit an oncoming car driven by Michael Starr, 65, of Los Altos, Calif., who is in guarded condition at Queens hospital.

Starr's wife, Alice, 64, remains in guarded but stable condition at Kona Hospital.

Police seek help to solve thefts at Hilo churches

HILO -- Police are asking for the public's help in solving a series of burglaries at Hilo churches.

Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church was burglarized between Oct. 4 and Oct. 6, and a stereo amplifier and speaker were taken.

An amplifier and speakers were also taken on Aug. 22, and a sound booster on Aug. 11.

Burglars also broke into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but nothing was taken. The date was not given.

Anyone with information on the burglaries is asked to call police at 935-2213 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.

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