IN the heart of Honolulu is preserved three of the oldest Western-style houses in Hawaii. They sit off busy South King Street, collectively known as the Mission Houses Museum. Mission houses
The houses were built by the Protestant missionaries who came from New England. That first company, including six newlywed couples, arrived in 1820 aboard the brig Thaddeus.
The main Frame House was erected in 1821 with a precut frame from New England; a second structure, the Chamberlain House, was built in 1831; and the Printing Office, built in 1841, today contains a replica of the Mission Station's press and a model of the station, circa 1821.
Among some features of the Frame House, originally built with permission from Liholiho (Kamehameha II), and which underwent nearly $1 million in renovations a couple years ago:
Pink-and-gold wallpaper, reproduced after a scrap of the original was found in a journal of the Rev. Hiram Bingham, one of the first missionaries.
Harris signs into law curbs on strip bars
A bill aimed at curbing what's allowed in non-alcoholic strip bars has been signed into law by Mayor Jeremy Harris.Councilman Andy Mirikitani, who introduced the bill, said people under 21 are now barred from either entering or working as exotic dancers in such establishments.
Police vice officers earlier this year arrested two 15-year-olds and two 17-year-olds working as strippers in a Keeau-moku Street establishment. One of the 17-year-olds was arrested for prostitution.
The new law also cracks down on so-called teenage nightclubs, which don't serve alcohol.
The law requires them to be shut down between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Mirikitani said the clubs have been open all hours of the evening.
The new law does not prevent people under 21 from entering bars or other liquor-serving establishments, except strip clubs. Such policies are at the discretion of bar owners.
South Shore on alert for invasion of jellyfish
Ocean Safety officials have issued a jellyfish watch for tomorrow through Sunday at South Shore beaches.The peak jellyfish days are expected to be on Friday and Saturday.
The areas most prone to jellyfish are the Ala Moana Beach Park swim channel, Waikiki Beach, Hanauma Bay and Pokai Bay.
Lifeguards will post signs and advisories.
A jellyfish sting can be treated with vinegar, officials said. If the pain persists, seek medical help.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Police are investigating yesterday's shooting at a Salt Lake apartment building as a murder-suicide. Two deaths in Salt Lake
Rod Ohira, Star-Bulletin
likely murder-suicideHomicide Lt. Allen Napoleon said it appears a 31-year-old resident of Fairway Gardens at 5210 Likini St. shot his 26-year-old girlfriend in the head and then shot himself about 5:15 p.m.
The couple had been living together in Unit 403 for about eight months and "kept to themselves," witnesses said.
"I think they broke up and she came to get her stuff," Fairway Garden resident Cali Davis said. "I was outside in the pool and I heard three shots."
When asked about a possible motive, Napoleon said: "It appears to be breakup."
The woman's mother, who accompanied her daughter to the apartment to pick up personal items, called police after hearing shots, Napoleon said.
The bodies were found in the bedroom, according to police reports.
A handgun was located near the right hand of the boyfriend.
Waipio Valley man found in June was murdered
Big Island police say a man whose body was found partially buried in the sand on a beach in Waipio Valley June 2 was murdered.Detectives say an autopsy has determined Waipio Valley resident Matthew J. Peak, 22, was strangled or suffocated.
Police Lt. Derek Pacheco said Peak, who was originally from California and homeless, had lived in Waipio Valley for about two moths and had been camping close to the beach.
He said the autopsy revealed Peak had been dead from a week to 10 days.
Fire in Waimanalo leaves family of seven homeless
A family of seven, including five children, is homeless after a fire destroyed their Waimanalo home last night.Six fire crews responded to the 7:56 p.m. blaze at 41-1018 Kakaina St. The home was fully engulfed by the time they arrived on scene. It was under control at 8:18 p.m.
No one was home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. About $150,000 damage was reported to the structure, and $25,000 to the contents. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Kauai man killed, woman injured in traffic accident
LIHUE -- An 80-year-old Lawai man was killed yesterday morning when he attempted to merge his car onto Kaumualii Highway from a side road and was broadsided by a pickup truck.Kauai Police identified the man as Alfred L. Dickens. A 75-year-old woman passenger in Dickens' car was hospitalized in serious condition. The driver of the pickup truck was treated and released at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
The death was Kauai's sixth traffic fatality of 1999 compared with three during the same period last year.
FBI thinks it may have culprit in 1996 robbery
The FBI yesterday charged a 26-year-old man with the May 1996 robbery of Pioneer Federal Savings Bank in Pearl City.Fred Waikipoha Brown was arrested at his work place in Waikiki. Myron Fuller, special agent in charge of the FBI's Honolulu office, was not available for comment on what led agents to Brown.
Leeward Coast lifeguards on lookout for big shark
Lifeguards on the Leeward Coast are on alert today after a 10-foot tiger shark was spotted roaming around Maili Beach Park yesterday.The park is open today and no problems were reported by mid-morning.
Lifeguards saw the shark when it came about 10 feet from shore at the popular family swimming area called Babyland yesterday at 10:30 a.m., said Capt. Teene Froisecth.
The beach was closed for most of the day, while lifeguards patrolled the waters in Yamaha Waverunners.
