TODAY, Diamond Head is a world-renowned landmark and tourist beacon. 'Fire Headland'
But long before it was so named by foreigners who saw glittering mica flakes on its seaside cliff, Diamond Head was called Leahi, "Fire Headland," by ancient Hawaiians. That was due to the wood fire that was kept burning at night to guide sea traffic into Honolulu's harbor.
The ancients built shrines on Diamond Head's slopes, including Papaenaena ("Supreme Judgement Seat") to the war god Ku. It was here that Kamehameha formally commemorated his 1790 Nuuanu Pali victory which gave him dominance of the Hawaiian Islands.
A smaller temple, Makahuna, at the foot of Diamond Head was dedicated to the sea god Kanaloa, religiously attended by fishermen and seamen.
And because of its panoramic view, Diamond Head was used during World War II as a lookout. In addition to the view, hikers going up the trail, through the 200-foot long tunnel and up a metal spiral staircase will see remnants of the military presence.
The three-year advertising contract at Aloha Stadium has been awarded to Harriet Mizuguchi, wife of Senate President Norman Mizuguchi, but only after an extensive competitive bidding process, stadium officials say. Senator's wife wins stadium contract
Mizuguchi's company Hawaii Malls' bid was "very impressive," stadium administrative services officer Debbie Ishihara said.
"It was the best bid with the lowest price," Ishihara said.
Hawaii Malls Inc. beat two other companies in their bid to market advertising space at the state's largest sports venue.
Hawaii Malls offered to take a 20 percent commission on the advertising it sells, compared with Glenna Wong Public Relations' bid of 30 percent and Mana Means Advertising and Public Relations' bid of 35 percent.
The work had been done for the past five years by the University of Hawaii and earned about $200,000 annually.
A spokeswoman for Sen. Mizuguchi (D, Moanalua Valley-Aiea-Pearlridge) said the Senate president had no part in the decision to select his wife.
UH receives word Manoa is reaccredited
The University of Hawaii received unofficial word yesterday that accreditation for the Manoa campus was reaffirmed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.The decision came at the end of association committee meetings held this week in California, according to a UH news release.
UH Senior Vice President Dean Smith attended the meetings. Official confirmation is expected in mid-July. A follow-up visit would then be scheduled for 2002.
"This certainly confirms our stature as a major research institution and serves to reaffirm the findings of several national surveys ranking UHM among the country's leading research universities," Smith said in the release.
The accreditation team visited the campus last March. It identified four major areas of concern: planning, communication, administration and governance, and budgetary decline.
The commission complimented Manoa's undergraduate education and its student-faculty ratio of 11 to 1, according to the university.
The last full accreditation review at Manoa was conducted in 1990.
The full text of the team report along with the university's response is available at www.hawaii.edu/svpevc.
UH, HPU programs get medical grants
Grants totaling $151,686 will go to student loan programs at University of Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific University.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service and Public Health Service plan to give the grants which focus on medical and nursing programs.
The UH medical school will get two grants - $40,774 and $39,522 - while $20,186 will go to UH's nursing students loan program.
HPU's Nursing Student Loan Program will receive $51,204.
Nuuanu residents to 'Stand Up for Safety'
Nuuanu residents are organizing a "Stand Up for Safety" event from 9 to 11 a.m. tomorrow along the Pali Highway.The event follows the death of pedestrian Anna Hara, 90, who was struck by a car and killed as she tried to cross the Pali on June 13.
Participants will gather at St. Stephen's Church and hold signs to remind motorists to slow down.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation has moved up the installation date of traffic lights near the crosswalk where Hara was killed, Sen. Rod Tam announced yesterday.
The signals at Jack Lane and Akamu Place may be completed six months earlier -- by the fall of next year rather than its originally scheduled completion date of May, 2001.
Tam said Hara's death has heightened the community's concern for safety and the need for an additional light.
In other news...
Mayor Wright Homes will host a cultural fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 10 featuring food, entertainment and other activities.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffBars sued for allegedly pirating boxing match
Thirty Oahu bars have been sued for allegedly pirating a pay-per-view boxing match.Event Entertainment asked for $1 million in damages from each establishment in the suit filed in federal court yesterday.
The mainland company held exclusive distribution rights to the Feb. 9, 1996, boxing card from Las Vegas.
That included a fight between WBO lightweight champion Oscar De La Hoya and Darryl Tyson, according to the suit filed by New York attorneys.
The distributor charges that the local businesses committed fraud, breach of contract and violated federal law when they "unlawfully intercepted, received and/or de-scrambled (the) satellite signal" which other television users were paying to receive.
The defendants named include Moose McGillycuddy's Pub & Cafe, Kahale's Beach Club, Evergreen Lounge, Club Infinity, Kool Lounge, Snapper's Sports Pub, Club Femme Nu, Pearl City Cue and Nineteenth Hole Lounge.
Baby sitter indicted in death of 6-month-old
A baby sitter has been charged with the October 1997 death of a 6-month-old baby girl in Salt Lake.An Oahu grand jury Wednesday indicted Earlily Aganon with second-degree murder for causing the death of Karie Canencia. The infant suffered a brain injury, said deputy prosecutor Glenn Kim.
Armed robber nabs purse at beach in Waimanalo
Police are searching for a man with a rifle who robbed a woman at Waimanalo Beach Park yesterday.A 23-year-old woman and her friend were sitting in a parked car when the suspect approached them at 2:10 a.m., police said.
He aimed a rifle at them and demanded money, police said. The two got out of the car and ran. The suspect took a purse that was left in the car.
The suspect is described as a tall, thin man about 38-40 years old, 6 feet tall, 140 pounds. He was wearing a black beanie-style cap and a blue-and-white shirt.
A man with the suspect was described as in his 20s and about 5 feet 8 inches tall. He was wearing a blue-and-white flannel shirt.
In other news ...
A 40-year-old woman was arrested for passing a counterfeit bill at the Pali Long's Drug Store yesterday.
The woman, of Kalihi Street, purchased a few items with a $100 bill at 6:20 a.m., police said. The bill was checked and found to be fake.
The woman was booked for first-degree forgery.
Nasario is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 185 pounds, with hazel eyes and long brown hair to the middle of her back.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 961-2278 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
