THE late 1800s was a time of burgeoning sea trade between Hawaii and the world. Honolulu Harbor was at the center of this activity, with ships' arrival announced by boys running through town blowing conch shells. Guiding light
In 1856, a wooden structure built as a lookout and a new telegraph station at Punchbowl worked in tandem to alert townspeople of incoming ships.
But it wasn't until 1899, when the Diamond Head Lighthouse was completed after two years of construction, that incoming sailors were guided by a black lantern into Honolulu Harbor. That original structure was replaced in 1918 by a reinforced concrete tower, with a beacon that could be seen for 18 nautical miles. Today, the original lens remains but the light system has much stronger beams.
In 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard merged with the Lighthouse Service, which had long operated the Diamond Head facility.
Malcolm Tom assumes new post with city
Malcolm Tom, the city's budget director since 1995, assumes the post of deputy managing director today.The budget director's position was deleted as a result of Mayor Jeremy Harris' reorganization of a year ago -- which was led by Tom.
Tom, 52, will assist Managing Director Ben Lee in the operational management duties of the city.
Ford Island runway closes to civilians
Ford Island, which has been used by civilian pilots for touch-and-go practice landings since it was decommissioned as a naval air field in 1962, saw its last civilian pilots yesterday.The state has transferred its air traffic control officer, who oversees the civilian operations, since its new general aviation field will be at the Kalaeloa Airport at Barbers Point.
The runway on the 450-acre island in the middle of Pearl Harbor eventually will become a buffer zone separating Navy housing from more commercial operations planned for the island. The Navy hopes to build 1,200 housing units.
There was a minor mishap shortly after 12:30 p.m. yesterday when a civilian pilot flying a Cessna owned by Oahu Aviation made a hard landing on Ford Island, a Navy spokesman said.
There were two people in the aircraft at the time. No one was injured.
Not guilty plea
State IDs to be issued on certain Saturdays
Hawaii residents can now obtain or renew their state identification cards on certain Saturdays during the rest of the year.Acting Attorney General Thomas R. Keller said Gov. Ben Cayetano by executive order yesterday extended the hours for the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, civil identification section, to provide additional time for the public to get ID cards.
The ID office will be open on the following Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: July 17, Aug. 14, Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4.
Police roadblocks due this weekend
Police are reminding motorists that drinking-driver checkpoints will be set up at unannounced times and locations during the summer, starting with the upcoming July 4 weekend.The DUI roadblocks will be set up at unannounced times and sites in an effort to curb drunk driving and motor vehicle collisions caused by impaired drivers.
State of Hawaii enters bugless fiscal 2000
The Hawaii state government entered fiscal year 2000 today, and the state's Y2K coordinator said as of this morning she had received no reports of so-called "Y2K bug" problems, nor does she expect any."We're working very hard to make sure we're ready by Sept. 30," said Deputy State Comptroller Mary Pat Waterhouse.
"We're considering it pretty much a standard work day," said Lester M. Nakamura, administrator of the information and communication services division of the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
Most state departments have already processed budget numbers dated 2000 without major trouble. "There were a few problems, but they were fixed right away," said Lester Nakamura, an information services adminstrator. "We're dealing with this all along. It's not a one-day thing."
The so-called "Y2K bug" stems from the fact that some older computers may be unable to decipher information dated 2000, causing computer malfunctions or crashes.
Correction
The Hawaii Tourism Authority wants to increase visitor spending to $14.9 billion in 2005 from $11.1 billion this year. A Hawaii Inc. article yesterday had incorrect figures.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffKona accidents leave three dead, one hurt
KAILUA-KONA - Three people were killed and a fourth was injured in roadway accidents in Kona yesterday, police said.A Nissan sedan driven by an unidentified victim was heading south on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a Chevrolet van driven by Lilia Sagabaen, 63, about 10:25 p.m. police said.
Witnesses pulled Sagabaen and her passenger Sotero Sagabaen, 88, from the vehicle.
Sotero Sagabaen and the driver of the Nissan were pronounced dead at Kona Hospital. Lilia Sagabaen was listed in guarded condition there.
In another accident, at 4:15 p.m., motorcyclist Francois Freire, 39, of Keauhou-Kona was killed when he drove off Alii Drive while passing other vehicles, police said.
Three in stolen auto captured after wreck
Three men in a stolen car were captured after they crashed the vehicle into a Jaguar yesterday while attempting to flee from the Ward Centre parking structure.Two women in the Jaguar suffered minor injuries.
The suspects -- ages 23, 20 and 19 -- were booked for unauthorized control of the vehicle.
Police also were seeking to charge them with reckless endangering for the 2:41 p.m. incident.
The men attempted to flee after Ward Centre security officers spotted them acting suspiciously in the parking structure.
Security officers told police the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when it clipped a sports utility vehicle and small wall.
They said the car then went airborne and landed on the Jaguar, which was at the driveway exit near Borders Books & Music Store.
In other news ...
The man, 39, has wounds to his back and side and is in guarded condition at Queen's Hospital, police said.
The woman, who was booked for attempted murder, told police she was being abused by her husband.
Kailua fire Capt. Mike Bene-detti said a sprinkler system contained the 2:56 a.m. fire, but the restaurant at 201A Hamakua Drive sustained water damage.
Cause of the fire is under investigation. No damage estimates were available.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
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