Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, January 12, 1999

Law stops convicted prostitutes
from walking Waikiki at night

By Gordon Y.K. Pang, Star-Bulletin

When Kristen Artusy was arrested walking in front of the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel early yesterday morning, she became the first person to be busted under the state's "geographical restrictions" law.

Police and prosecutors hope the arrest of Artusy, 20, sends a message to prostitutes that there will be enforcement of the law that went into effect July 1.

Artusy was charged with contempt of court for violating her bail provisions from a previous prostitution arrest Dec. 23, Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said.

Among those provisions was an agreement prohibiting her "from entering or walking along the public streets or sidewalks of Waikiki during the hours from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Artusy posted bail of $975 and was released from jail about 6:45 a.m., just over three hours after she was arrested. Prosecutors say, however, that she could be found guilty of contempt, a misdemeanor.

That offense could land her in jail for up to a year, Deputy Prosecutor Sheila Nitta said.

The law also allows convicted prostitutes to agree not to walk in Waikiki from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily in lieu of jail time.

Capt. Karl Godsey, executive officer for the Police Department's Waikiki Division, said Artusy is one of four people who must follow the order based on either a plea agreement or bail condition.

Their pictures are posted on the Waikiki substation wall and officers are told to be on the lookout for the four women.

It makes no difference whether they intend to engage in illegal activity or not -- their presence in Waikiki during the posted hours would be construed as breaking the law, Godsey said.

"If we see them, we will arrest them," he said. "This is part of the message we want to get out."

A person under the restriction, if living in Waikiki, can stay in his or her residence but cannot go onto the street.

Waikiki, under the law, is defined as the area bounded by the Ala Wai Canal, the ocean and Kapahulu Avenue.

The success of the "geographic restrictions" measure in Waikiki will determine whether authorities choose to seek similar laws for other districts on the island, Carlisle said.

Hamakua farmers concerned
about use of water from ditch

By Rod Thompson, Star-Bulletin

HONOKAA, Hawaii -- Hamakua Coast farmers and ranchers are worried that water from a reconstructed Lower Hamakua Ditch will be used to benefit large landowners such as Bishop Estate to the detriment of small-scale water users.

"Bishop Estate always said they don't need water, but people they lease to (along the present ditch) are using the water," said Zak Gibson of Pu'u'ala Ranch.

The comments were made last night as state and federal officials held a meeting on a draft environmental impact statement for the project.

No representative of Bishop Estate, which bought about 30,000 acres in the area after Hamakua Sugar Co. closed in 1984, was present to answer the concerns.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing a $10.6 million repair of the 24-mile irrigation ditch which was built in 1910 but has deteriorated badly since the sugar company closed.

The federal government would pay $6 million and the state $4.2 million, said Michael Kolman of the USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service. Individual farmers would do work on their own land worth $400,000, he said.

Paul Matsuo of the state Department of Agriculture said the governor will ask for some construction funds in the upcoming session of the Legislature.

But people at the meeting wanted to know who would benefit from the project.

When Gibson asked how much water Bishop Estate will use, Matsuo said that is still under negotiation.

"I'm getting pretty upset," Gibson said. "Tell us what's going on."

Area resident Kaipo Kamalani asked, "Is there a secret goal to give water to foreign people?"

She said she was referring to a now-dead plan to lease Hamakua land to Oji Paper Co. of Japan to grow eucalyptus trees.

"Will it be turned over to Bishop Estate?" she asked.

Matsuo said an irrigation district would be set up with local users running it.

"Rules have been changed (in the past)," Kamalani responded.

Gibson questioned whether Bishop Estate, as the major landowner along the ditch, would have the major say in the irrigation district.

Matsuo said repair of the ditch is intended to benefit 2,500 acres of agricultural land and 2,000 acres of pasture land.

Comments and questions on the project impact statement will be taken until Feb. 1, Kolman said. People should write to the Natural Resources and Conservation Service, P.O. Box 50004, Honolulu 96850.

Zoning code has Big Isle
residents confused

By Rod Thompson, Star-Bulletin

HILO -- Big Island developers are taking no comfort from a judge's ruling that the county's controversial zoning code is still the law, despite being improperly enacted.

Kona Judge Ronald Ibarra ruled twice that the 1996 zoning code was passed into law without the full public knowledge required by law, but it will remain in effect until Sept. 1 or until the Hawaii County Council takes new action.

If nothing is done by Sept. 1, the old law goes back into effect.

Development attorney Ben Tsukazaki says he isn't sure what to advise clients.

Planning consultant Sidney Fuke says he is submitting applications to the county Planning Department and telling them to process them under the new law or the old one, whichever the department thinks appropriate.

Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, chairwoman of the County Council Planning Committee, says her staff is asking pending applicants, which are fewer than 10, if they want to move forward or wait.

Leithead-Todd described the case of Kapulehu Developments' 1,120 acre Kona housing and golf course application as an example of the problem.

The company is asking for a "project district," a designation under the 1996 code which gives the company flexibility. The designation didn't exist before 1996.

What will happen, she asks, if the county approves Kaupulehu's project district, but the Council then abolishes the designation? Although the project might be legal, someone might file a costly court challenge anyway.

Kona open government activist Jerry Rothstein says that is a "remote possibility."

Along with paralegal Judie Graham, Rothstein filed the suit that led to Ibarra's decision.

He says it would be hard for a challenger to show a legal basis to make the challenge. But he adds that moving ahead with applications is "not without risk."

Tsukazaki, who represents Kaupulehu Developments, says the company has told him to go slow.

And Fuke is taking no chances. He is submitting the new $500 fee with applications, but says if county officials want to charge the old $100 fee, that's all right with him.

Leithead-Todd says her staff is studying the original 245-page bill, trying to figure out what the changes are.

Cayetano selects two department deputies

Gov. Ben Cayetano has named two new departmental deputy directors.

Sidney Hayakawa, formerly a Honolulu-based Drug Enforcement Administration agent, takes over as the Department of Public Safety's deputy director for law enforcement.

Janet Kawelo, a special assistant in the lieutenant governor's office, assumes the No. 2 post in the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Hayakawa has been the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's agent in charge of the Hawaii district office for training.

Kawelo has also worked as an economics researcher at First Hawaiian Bank.

Legislators looking at child support agency

Lawmakers will be asking questions of Attorney General Margery Bronster and Child Support Enforcement Agency Administrator Michael Meaney at a Jan. 19 informational briefing at the state Capitol.

The briefing, at 11 a.m. in conference room 325 before the House and Senate Judiciary and Human Services committees, will be held to discuss issues surrounding the agency.

Ewa Beach community grants are available

Community groups in Ewa Beach may apply for grants of up to $1,000 from the Ewa Beach Community Trust Fund.

Groups may learn about the trust fund and receive grant applications at a 7 p.m. meeting tonight at the Friendship Youth Center in Ewa. The trust fund will consider helping groups with a history of involvement with the Ewa Beach community.

Programs involving youth or the elderly, and projects promoting positive community identity are especially encouraged to apply. For information, call 537-6333.

Navy fleet oiler due at Pearl Harbor

The Navy's fleet oiler USNS John Ericsson will arrive at Pearl Harbor this afternoon replacing two Pearl Harbor vessels.

The Ericsson, commissioned in 1991, was re-actived in October and is operated by the Navy's Military Sealift Command. It is crewed by 66 civilian mariners and 24 military personnel, compared to the 300-person crews of the USS Cimarron and USS Willmette which it replaces.

HPU honors Harris for education efforts

Hawaii Pacific University has chosen Mayor Jeremy Harris as the 1999 recipient of its "Fellow of the Pacific Award" for his outstanding contributions and service to higher education.

The award, the university's highest accolade, will be given at HPU's winter commencement exercises where Harris will give the keynote address tomorrow at the Waikiki Shell.

"It has been our pleasure to work with Mayor Harris on many successful projects," said Chatt G. Wright, university president. "This award signifies our recognition of his outstanding leadership and salutes his dedication to the people of Honolulu."

Isle companies invited to 'Bidders Conference'

Hawaii firms, especially technology companies, universities and other business organizations, are invited to attend a "Bidders Conference."

Conference speakers will discuss how to compete for grants from the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Small- and medium-sized firms can also learn how to formulate proposals to support development of emerging, risky technologies.

On Oahu tomorrow, the conference will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the State Office Tower, room 204; and 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the University of Hawaii, Kuykendall 101.

For meeting information on Maui, the Big Island and Kauai, or to reserve a seat at the conference, call 586-2388.

CORRECTION The Lae nani resort condominium on Kauai is at Wailua. The location was incorrectly named in a Hawaii Inc. story yesterday. Henry Sumida was an engineer in the Air Force. His role was incorrectly reported yesterday in a Newsmaker article on Dennis Brown.

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

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Police, Fire



By Star-Bulletin staff

Territorial Savings downtown branch hit

The downtown branch of Territorial Savings & Loan was the target of the second bank robbery of the new year.

A man who passed a note demanding money got away with an undisclosed amount of cash in the 2:34 p.m. holdup at 1000 Bishop St.

The bandit claimed to be armed but no weapon was seen, according to an FBI release. The slender, 6-foot-tall man with black hair in a pony tail wore blue jeans, a dark shirt and a baseball cap.

Anyone with information may call the FBI at 521-1411 or CrimeStoppers, 955-8300.

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