Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, October 14, 1997

Hawaii students tap into
man’s adventures in
rowing across the Pacific

By Greg Ambrose
Star-Bulletin

For his 41st birthday two Sundays ago, Mick Bird treated himself to a pancake breakfast.

That's not much of a treat to most people, but it's pretty special when you're in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and rowing to Hawaii.

Bird is rowing his 28-foot boat Reach from Northern California to Hawaii to help youngsters believe that anything is possible. And they are getting the message loud and clear. Students from the Kamehameha Schools are following Bird's voyage by calling up his Web site at http://www.goals.com.

They are reading daily updates of his adventure which include tales of huge waves slamming into his boat like runaway trains. Bird's Internet accounts put the kids with him in the boat as he is tormented by maddening calm winds, delighted by tradewinds that speed him toward Hawaii, and frustrated by confused seas and squalls that buffet his boat and take him off course.

The youngsters also are able to ask Bird questions, as did the Hawaiian-language immersion class from Keaau School on the Big Island, who posed the questions in Hawaiian with translations.

"The kids are getting really excited, asking him to come visit them when he gets in," says Bird's mother, Patty, who lives in Kaunakakai and talks to her son daily by satellite link.

Bird set out Aug. 19 from Fort Bragg, and already has put 1,217 nautical miles between himself and California. He has only 962 nautical miles to go before he reaches Hawaii, although capricious ocean conditions frequently add miles to his journey.

Patty Bird is eager to see her son again, and expects him to reach Hawaii by Oct. 24, though she knows that the ocean will ultimately determine when, or if, he makes it.

Court won't revive suit by Fasi against Gannett

Former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi has failed to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to revive his $70 million libel lawsuit against the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Gannett Co.

Fasi had charged that the newspaper libeled him in a July 1993 editorial.

The editorial criticized his attempt to convince a landowner to donate 2,500 acres to the city for a sports complex in exchange for zoning changes needed to permit a housing and commercial development.

The editorial referred to the mayor as "Frank 'The Extortionist' Fasi," and said the demand for a land donation amounted to "legalized blackmail" that helps drive up the prices of homes in Hawaii.

A judge threw out the case, saying the editorial involved commentary on public issues and was protected by the Constitution's guarantee of press freedom.

An appeals court upheld that decision.

The Supreme Court today refused to consider Fasi's appeal.

Fasi was mayor of Honolulu from 1969-80, and again from 1985-94. Gannett sold the Star-Bulletin to Liberty Newspapers Ltd. four years ago.

Bone marrow registry seeks possible donors

People who visit the Food and New Products Show next week will expect to pick up free samples.

They will be asked to leave a sample of themselves for a good cause.

The Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry will be seeking possible donors for Hawaii residents who suffer from life-threatening blood disease.

Just a small sample of blood is taken for tissue typing.

The donor registry booth will be open throughout the show at the Blaisdell Center exhibition hall Oct. 23-26.

Information on the donor registry is available by calling 524-6619.

Week Without Violence will begin Saturday

Candles raised in remembrance of past victims of domestic violence and a men's march and rally against violence will be the highlights of the YWCA's fourth annual Week Without Violence.

Scheduled for Saturday through Oct. 25, the week will be packed with seminars and workshops for victims and survivors of domestic violence and methods on how to protect themselves and their families from crime.

YWCA volunteers will also go into public schools to ask kids to take a "Peace Pledge."

The pledge states that for the week they will abstain from watching any violence on television and participating in violent activities.

Organizers of the week want to educate the public in alternatives to violence.

For more information the week's activities, phone 538-7061.

Wilson speaks at U.N. anniversary dinner

Land board Chairman Michael D. Wilson is the keynote speaker at an Oct. 24 dinner at the Hale Koa Hotel marking the 52nd anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

Wilson will speak on "Sustainability: Protecting Our Resources for the Future Generation" at 6 p.m.

Also, on display will be the UN's 59th anniversary commemorative quilt.

The dinner is sponsored by the United Nations Association USA, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, the Friends of the East-West Center, the American Association of University Women and the Pan Pacific Southeast Asia Women's Association.

Cost is $35 for members of these groups; $37 for nonmembers. Deadline is Oct. 21. Call 944-7692 or 523-4369 for more information.

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

Waimanalo man detained in robbery of coffee shop

Police are holding a 29-year-old Waimanalo man for allegedly robbing the Hungry Lion Coffee Shop on Nuuanu Avenue this morning.

The suspect entered the restaurant with a note demanding money at about 1:15 a.m., police said.

He then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash but was apprehended a short while after.

Early-morning fire guts Kaimuki family's home

A family is homeless after a fire engulfed and destroyed their Kaimuki home this morning.

Arson detectives are investigating the fire, which started at 2:32 a.m. on the 3000 block of Wela Street.

Fire officials said the family of two parents and one teen-ager is now seeking Red Cross assistance. No injuries were reported.

Hawaii police chief picked for missing-child training

HILO -- Hawaii County Police Chief Wayne Carvalho has been selected by U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to take part in a national two-day training program for investigating cases of missing children, his office announced.

Carvalho is one of 33 police chiefs to take part in the program Sunday and Monday at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Arlington, Va.

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