Millennium Moments
Nestled in tranquil Nuuanu Valley is Hanai aka Malama, more commonly known as the Queen Emma Summer Palace. Royal retreat
Built in 1843 as a royal retreat, its splendor was enjoyed by visitors from as far away as Europe.
Reported the Hawaiian Gazette on March 2, 1870: "On Monday afternoon, her Majesty Queen Emma gave an impromptu entertainment to a large number of guests at her residence in Nuuanu Valley. The guests enjoyed themselves at croquet and other outdoor sports on the lawn until evening when the fine room prepared for the entertainment of the Duke of Edinburgh was thrown open and dancing commenced."
Among items displayed at the palace: the koa cradle of young Prince Albert, son of Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV (Alexander Liholiho), who died in 1862 at age 4; and a locket with a lock of hair from England's Queen Victoria, Emma's friend who was godmother to Albert.
3 face deportation for illegal voting
Three noncitizens are facing deportation for voting illegally and another three are under investigation, but it does not appear that the six were part of a concerted effort to get noncitizens to vote, said Donald Radcliffe, the district director for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.Last year, Republican gubernatorial nominee Linda Lingle and her supporters raised questions about the state's new election system and whether there was illegal voting that included fraud with absentee votes.
Lingle lost by 5,200 votes in the state's closest gubernatorial race.
"Not a week goes by without people telling me that they believe things weren't handled properly in the election. They're disgusted with whole system," she said.
A recount of the entire general election in March, conducted under the supervision of state auditor Marion Higa, turned up no evidence of fraud and confirmed the election results.
Linda Aragon, the spokeswoman for the state Elections Office, said Chief Election Officer Dwayne Yoshina was not aware of the cases pending before INS.
Aragon added that while the Elections Office is sensitive to any questions concerning election integrity, the problems turned up by the INS aren't widespread and show that "the system works."
Radcliffe said illegal voting only became a deportable offense a couple of years ago, so INS didn't track voting by noncitizens before then.
Aloha United Way plans Y2K hot line
People worried about the so-called "Y2K bug" but unsure where to turn for information soon will have a new source: the Aloha United Way's ASK-2000 referral line."Our basic function is to be a clearinghouse of information for people, and this seemed like a natural extension of that," said program director Dorothy Colby.
"People want answers (about the Year 2000 computer problem), but don't know who to call. They can start with us."
Starting July 1, callers to ASK-2000 can get local and national Y2K hot lines for such industries as banking, airlines, utilities, telecommunications and government, as well as information on personal preparedness and home computers.
"Instead of having to search around for all those numbers yourself, you can call us once," Colby said.
The free, confidential service, reachable at ASK-2000 (275-2000), is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information also can be retrieved from the organization's Web site at www.ask2000.org
Seminar to look at law on children and divorce
Ensuring the welfare of children in a divorce or paternity proceeding will be the topic of discussion at "Lunch 'n' Learn the Law," from noon to 1:15 p.m. tomorrow at the Supreme Court Courtroom.The program is part of a series of free informational seminars offered by the state Judiciary by volunteer judges, attorneys and other experts.
Attorneys Chunmay Chang and Linda Martell will discuss topics such as child support, child custody, visitation and paternity determination.
For more information, call the State Judiciary's Public Affairs Office at 539-4910.
Water quality talks set for Leeward residents
Information on Oahu drinking water quality will be presented to Leeward area consumers tomorrow at the first of a series of meetings hosted by federal, state and county agencies.The meeting at 7 p.m. at the Campbell Building, 1901 Kamokila Blvd., Kapolei, will feature speakers from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffHostage-taking suspect held on $330,000 bail
A 38-year-old Wahiawa man was charged yesterday with multiple felony counts of kidnapping, armed robbery and first-degree terroristic threatening stemming from Saturday's hostage-taking incident at the Mililani Longs Drug Store.Michael Murakami, of a California Avenue address, is being held in lieu of $330,000 bail. Murakami allegedly held a pharmacist and four other employees hostage at knife point and threatened to blow up the store after being denied a prescription pain-killing drug.
Motorist who witnessed assault asked to call
Police are looking for a man who assaulted a woman jogger on Father's Day near the Heeia Park footpath on Kamehameha Highway.
The woman, 41, said she has been running in the area for nine years and never experienced problems before.
But at 10:30 a.m. on June 20, a man she had seen earlier during her run stood at the entrance of the footpath.
The man took out a switchblade or butterfly knife and grabbed the woman, throwing her up against a chain-link fence.
The woman's screams attracted the attention of a passing motorist in a green mini-van, causing the suspect to flee.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300. Police are asking the motorist to call for a witness statement.
Police asking for help in identifying attacker
Police are asking the public's help in identifying and locating a male suspect in an assault case that occurred on Saturday, June 19, at about 8:30 p.m. on the corner of Kuhio and Kealohilani Avenue.
A 41-year-old man was with a 22-year-old female friend looking for a restaurant to eat at when a group of three males approached them.
The suspect grabbed the female's arm and made verbally suggestive comments.
The victim then intervened and the suspect punched the victim, who suffered serious head injuries.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
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