Millennium Moments
IN 1848, the Mahele, or "Division of Lands," made by King Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) created fee-simple ownership of lands, a revolutionary change that allowed commoners to own property. 'Division of Lands'
Before that, land was viewed communely, as a provider and a great ancestor based on mythical traditions. Land was administered by the alii nui, or high chiefs, and worked by the makaainana, or commoners.
With the Mahele came the concept of private land ownership. It came at a time when missionaries and other foreign settlers brought different religions and ideas; a time of deep population decline since many natives had died from introduced diseases, which eroded traditional belief systems.
The Mahele took land out of the hands of the alii and into the possession of commoners and foreigners. By 1893, the year of the monarchy's overthrow, foreigners owned, or controlled through the crown lands commission and the boards of large chiefly trusts, 90 percent of Hawaii's lands.
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children has received $129,000 as part of a $29 million donation by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to children's hospitals across the country. Medical center
gets $129,000The check was presented over the weekend on the Children's Miracle Network broadcast and aired locally on KFVE-TV in Honolulu.
Mick Shannon, president of Children's Miracle Network, said the support and fund-raising efforts of Wal-Mart and Sam's Club "have helped make it possible for the (Kapiolani) hospital to care for thousands of children every year."
This way up
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Jose Pagaduan Jr. of Romar Sales Corp. yesterday erected
scaffolding on the Capitol grounds so the flagpoles can be painted.
Media campaign targets housing discrimination
County, state and federal governments have launched a media campaign to curb housing discrimination in the isles.According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for fiscal 1996, the latest available, Hawaii ranks third among all states in the number of housing complaints per 100,000 people, with 4.97.
Only North Dakota and Washington have higher ratios.
"Housing discrimination in Hawaii is hidden but persistent," Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday.
"This is particularly true among people with children, large families and persons with disabilities in our rental housing market."
Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in the renting or sale of a home due to familial status, physical or mental disability, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, HIV infection or age.
However, there is an exemption from the age standard for senior-housing units.
The public-awareness campaign features comedian Frank DeLima portraying various types of people protected from discrimination in housing.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffPolice/Fire
Police find grenades, drugs; two arrested
Police recovered two military hand grenades and arrested two residents after searching a Maili home yesterday.Officers searched the home on Mailiili Road on a drug search warrant, police said. A 56-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of several drug offenses at 7:30 p.m. The man also was booked for possessing weapons, ammunition and explosive devices.
Two grenades, an explosive device, a firearm, ammunition, methamphetamines and marijuana were recovered from the home, police said.
In other news...
Sims Santaana was charged yesterday for allegedly stealing more than $300 worth of Pokemon cards from a Waialae Avenue 7-Eleven store on Monday, police said.
The Courts
Mother held pending arraignment in abuse
A federal judge has ordered a woman charged with beating her 9-year-old son and forcing him to sit in a tub of scalding water to be held pending arraignment.Judge Francis Yamashita also allowed Allysha Hamber to be put on a waiting list for Miller Hale, a halfway house.
The court did not order her there but would reconsider if bed space opened, said assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Seabright.
Government prosecutors earlier argued against Hamber's release, saying it was inappropriate for her to be allowed contact with her family and children.
Hamber apparently became angry after she learned her son had been suspended from riding the school bus.
Dorian Lonnell Jones suffered first- and second-degree burns to his hands, buttocks, lower back, thighs and genitals in the May 24 incident. Both feet suffered second- and third-degree burns.
Mental exam ordered for murder defendant
HILO -- District Judge Jeffrey Choi has ordered a mental examination to see whether murder suspect Van Kahumoku is fit for trial on charges that he shot Randolph Hall, 37, of Hilo on May 15.Choi turned down a request to release Kahumoku without bail to the custody of a relative. He ordered Kahumoku to continue to be held in lieu of $100,000 bail, saying he believed Kahumoku would find it hard to avoid "creating a situation" if he were released.
Police say Kahumoku, 49, of Mountain View was angry because his estranged wife, Libby-Ann, was allegedly sleeping with Hall.
Kahumoku's attorney Kay Iopa yesterday sought to have Kahumoku released to the custody of Melissa Moniz, a family member who is also a state juvenile probation officer.
Moniz testified that electronic monitoring devices for Kahumoku could be set up in her home, where Kahumoku stayed prior to "the event."
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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