Participants in the December Friends for Ewa house-giveaway raffle are eligible for partial refunds under a settlement worked out by the Office of Consumer Protection. Partial refunds offered in
Ewa house raffleConsumers who purchased a small, medium, large or extra-large T-shirt can get $8.70 back. Those purchasing XXL or XXXL shirts can get $9.95 back.
Jo Ann Uchida, executive director of the Office of Consumer Protection, said refunds can be claimed by telephoning Friends for Ewa at 681-3284 or by writing to: Friends for Ewa, P.O. Box 1356, Ewa 96701. Or stop by the offices of the nonprofit group at 91-1235 Renton Road in Ewa between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Refunds must be processed within 45 days of a request.
Raffle tickets were sold by Friends for Ewa with a promise of a refurbished home, valued at $200,000, as the prize.
However, the winner turned was SCA Promotions, a Texas insurance company that underwrote the raffle and bought the unsold tickets when sales lagged.
Uchida said the state investigation discovered the raffle "was not conducted in a way that was fair to all donors and participants."
Names of participants who did not buy T-shirts were not included in the drawing, and Friends of Ewa did not own the prize at the time of the drawing.
HAENA, Kauai -- A small group of native Hawaiian protesters has shut down work on a noncommercial film, arguing the crew lacked proper permits to shoot in a historical site. Protest stops church
filming in Kauai caveA crew from Deseret Media, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tore down a set workers were building at Haena's Dry Cave after protesters said the crew lacked permission from the State Historical Preservation Office to use the site.
Although the company contended its county permits were sufficient, it agreed to leave. The crew was in the process of building a large fake boulder that blocked the cave but tore the structure down before leaving.
Kane Pa, one of the protesters, said the boulder was being built 50 feet inside the Dry Cave while the county permit allowed the film crew to work only at the mouth of the cave.
Scott Swofford of Deseret Media issued a prepared statement that said, "There are obvious sensitivities that surround this location that can't be resolved." He said the scenes would be filmed elsewhere on Kauai.
City speeds up permits for camping, disabled
A new computer system has been installed, allowing campers to reserve and receive camping permits on the spot at satellite city halls.While satellite city halls issued camping permits in the past, satellite personnel needed to get authorization from the main permits office at the Honolulu Municipal Building, Mayor Jeremy Harris said.
Also, those seeking a permit for more popular camping areas over a holiday weekend had had to go to the main office to secure the best spots.
However, the new system allows satellite staff to access a data bank that tracks the city's 14 designated campground areas, speeding up the process.
Harris also announced that disabled parking permits now are available at satellites and all units of city hall on wheels or by mail.
Nearly 15,000 disabled parking permits are issued each year. Previously, applicants had to come to a first-floor office at the Municipal Building.
Experts aim to clean Waimanalo stream
Reducing pollution in Waimanalo Stream is the goal of water-quality experts from the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Officials hope a joint study will identify the sources of sediments and other materials that pollute the stream and lead to recommendations on land management practices, runoff controls and other ways to clean up the stream.
Waimanalo Stream is one of 14 water bodies reported in a 1996 survey to consistently fall below water-quality standards.
"Pollution from runoff not only affects the stream, it also hurts the ecology of Waimanalo Bay," said Gary Gill, state deputy director of environmental health.
"Understanding and solving the polluted runoff problem will mean a healthier environment for people who live in the area and enjoy the bay," Gill said.
Water samples will be taken through six storm cycles to gather runoff data.
Torch honors openness in Hawaii public affairs
The third annual Torch of Light and Lava Tube Awards honoring the best and worst of openness throughout Hawaii in the past year will be announced Sunday on the Big Island.Members of the Big Island Press Club and the public are invited to a potluck picnic at noon at Kaumana Cave County Park.
For information, call (808) 935-6621.
Grant to help give aged better health care
A three-year $450,000 foundation grant will assist the state Executive Office on Aging to create a program in cooperation with both public and private organizations to promote better care for the aged.
Coalition against prison meets on Big Island
HILO -- An organizational meeting for the "Alternatives to Prison Coalition" is set for 6 p.m. today at the Seven Seas Luau House in Hilo, social activist James Albertini has announced.The site is the same place where three Big Island senators and state officials last week gave a status report on a 2,300-bed prison proposed for Stainback Highway.
Albertini is calling for a focus on education, job skills, and drug treatment. He can be contacted at 966-7622.
Torch honors openness in Hawaii public affairs
The third annual Torch of Light and Lava Tube Awards honoring the best and worst of openness throughout Hawaii in the past year will be announced Sunday on the Big Island.Members of the Big Island Press Club, their families, guests and the public are invited to a potluck picnic at noon at Kaumana Cave County Park.
For information, call (808) 935-6621.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPOLICE FIRE
Traffic near South King was halted four hours Tree falls, injures two
on KalakauaTwo people visiting from Japan were injured yesterday when a big part of a large tree fell onto Kalakaua Avenue between Kanunu and South King streets.
A man, 49, suffered a broken arm while his son, 15, had numerous cuts and scrapes.
Both were treated at Straub Hospital and released.
The fallen part of the tree forced police to close down a section of Kalakaua Avenue between South King Street and Kapiolani Boulevard to traffic in both directions at 4:39 p.m.
Lanes were reopened for mauka-bound traffic by 8:30 p.m.
A fire yesterday which caused an estimated $400,000 damage to a two-story Kalihi home was started by an unsupervised child playing with a lighter, fire investigators said. Child playing with lighter
caused fire, officials sayKalihi Uka fire Capt. Mel Tsutsumi estimates that 90 percent of the home at 2323 Keha Place is damaged. The fire started in a downstairs bedroom, he added.
During the investigation, a child admitted to starting the fire with a lighter.
Firefighters, who responded to the 4:08 p.m. alarm, reported the fire under control at 4:19 p.m.
Four families -- 10 adults and five children -- lived in the house, Tsutsumi said. No injuries were reported.
Fire units returned to the scene at about 9:15 p.m. to handle a flare-up.
Ewa Beach school boy, 14, arrested for knife threat
A 14-year-old student at Ilima Intermediate School in Ewa Beach was arrested and accused of threatening a classmate with a pocketknife.The boy was arrested at 11:30 a.m. in connection with first-degree terroristic threatening and released to his parents.
Fire was intentionally set at Waimea park, officials say
Fire investigators say arson was the cause of yesterday's blaze at Waimea Valley and Adventure Park.The fire started at about 4:51 a.m. at a storage shed containing 15 all-terrain four-wheelers, 11 golf carts and a shuttle bus, fire officials said.
About $300,000 damage was reported to the structure and $400,000 to its contents.
A shipping container with fertilizer inside also was damaged.
The fire was set at multiple points and was fueled by an accelerant, fire officials said. No injuries were reported.
Five companies battled the blaze and had it under control at 5:20 a.m.
The park was open for business yesterday.
Police seek man who stole camera, phone from stroller
Police are seeking a man who stole a camera, cellular telephone and fanny pack from a baby's stroller Dec. 9, 1998.The stolen items are valued at $750, police said. The theft was recorded on videotape.
The suspect was dressed in a dark blue suit and is about 5 feet 6 inches tall.
In other news...
A man who died after swimming in waters off of Waialae Beach Park on Monday has been identified by the medical examiner's office as 33-year-old Eduardo Manzano of Honolulu.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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