THE Aloha Tower was the tallest building in Hawaii when it was built in 1925, then dedicated in 1926. Hour tower
Its height had been a point of debate back then, with one faction favoring a smaller seven-story tower due to the extra $30,000 cost for a taller tower. But proponents of the 10-story, 184-foot tower prevailed -- and today, Aloha Tower stands as a nostalgic symbol of a time when luxury liners came calling into port.
In those "Boat Days" of the 1940s and '50s, Matson liners like the Lurline and Malolo would be welcomed in by the tower's four clock faces and maritime harbor signals. Piers 10 and 11 would be abuzz with activity as smartly suited passengers were greeted with lei, touristy hula dances and the Royal Hawaiian Band. Local boys, meanwhile, would dive at pier side for coins tossed into Honolulu Harbor.
Reopened this April after two years of restoration, Aloha Tower is a graceful sentinel over the harbor and Aloha Tower Marketplace, home to restaurants and shops. Its clock ticks more than 157.6 million times a year, and each clock face measures 12 feet, 6 inches in diameter.
Health clearance needed for all new students
The state Health Department reminds parents that all students entering public or private schools for the first time must meet certain health requirements.Students won't be allowed to enter school without:
A tuberculosis clearance.
A completed Student Health Record (Form 14), including a physical examination and all required immunizations, or a signed statement or appointment card from the student's doctor saying the student is in the process of completing the requirements.
Immunization and other health requirements are imposed to protect students from mumps, measles and other easily transmitted diseases.
Daiei, Longs Drugs, K-Mart, Safeway and Wal-Mart are distributing flyers to assist the Health Department in an educational campaign to reach parents.
Information on school health requirements also is available on the department Web site at http://www.hawaii.gov/health/resource/commdisease.html.
Or call the Hawaii Immunization Program, 586-8332.
Former cop sentenced for negligent homicide
HILO -- Former police officer Jeffrey Darrow entered a no contest plea to negligent homicide and pleaded guilty to drunk driving in the March 27, 1997 death of fellow officer Kenneth Keliipio.As part of a plea agreement, Judge Riki May Amano yesterday sentenced him to one year probation with no jail time, and ordered him to serve 1,000 hours of community service..
Darrow was off duty but at a police recruit graduation party on the night of the car crash.
Keliipio, on duty, entered the Volcano highway just south of Hilo in a heavy rain and was struck from behind by Darrow.
Axson taking over unit that accounts for MIAs
Brig. Gen. Harry Axson has been selected to be the next commander of Joint Task Full for Accounting, located at Camp Smith.Axson will replace Brig. Gen. Terry Rucker at a change of command ceremony tomorrow at Camp Smith. Rucker will move to Schofield Barracks as the new assistant division commander for the 25th Infantry Division,
Joint Task Force-Full Accounting is responsible for accounting for Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
Corrections
Cheap Tickets Inc. had second-quarter gross bookings of $38.5 million from the Internet, up from $4.3 million a year earlier, and bookings of $96.8 million from other sources, up from $66.1 million a year ago. Hawaii Inc. articles Monday and yesterday had incorrect figures.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Two women allegedly tried to steal goods from Kmart
Two women face felony theft charges after being arrested yesterday for trying to make a get-away with more than $700 worth of women's underwear and baby merchandise from the Waikele Kmart.The woman stuffed the merchandise into a new waste basket and pushed their cart out of the garden department at 12:40 p.m., police said. One woman punched a security guard while trying to run away, police added.
Man suspected of robbing with baseball bat caught
A 23-year-old man was arrested yesterday in connection with a robbery on Keeaumoku Street last month.The man is believed to be one of two suspects who robbed another man with a baseball bat on June 16, police said. He was booked for first-degree robbery. The second man is still on the loose.
'Home invasion' robbers being held in lieu of bail
Police yesterday charged two men on multiple felony counts for a home-invasion armed robbery early Monday morning in Kaimuki.Brad Miyachi, 33, of Aiea and Herbert Nishimura, 26, of Kailua were each charged with four counts of first-degree robbery, eight counts of kidnapping, one count of first-degree burglary, and a firearm offense.
They are being held in lieu of $100,000 bail apiece.
A third suspect wanted in connection with the 12:30 a.m. robbery at 1011 4th Ave. is still at large.
Man taken to hospital after being attacked in Moiliili
Police this morning arrested two men and are looking for a third suspect in connection with an attack on three other men in Moiliili.The men got into a fight at 2651 Kuilei St. at 1:18 a.m., police said. One suspect hit a man in the head with a car jack and another suspect slashed another man with a knife.
The man hit in the head was taken to Queen's Hospital in stable condition.
Two of the suspects were located and arrested at 1:48 a.m. in Kalihi, police said. They were booked for first-, second- and third-degree assault.
Man who died in May left behind cache of grenades
Family members cleaning out a home on Honowai Street found a cache of grenades and explosives yesterday, police said.The man who owned the explosives died in May from natural causes.
Police bomb technicians dismantled the explosives and grenades and had them destroyed.
No arrests were made and the case was closed.
