Foodland to support charities
Foodland Supermarket Ltd. has created a new annual charitable-giving program to support Hawaii's nonprofit groups."Give Aloha, Foodland's Annual Community Matching Gifts Program" will match customer donations of up to $249 to their favorite charities, up to $100,000. If donations exceed $100,000, Foodland's matching gifts will be donated to charities in the proportion of all donations received.
Customers can make their contributions at any Foodland or Sack 'n Save checkout Sept. 8-30.
"The program continues the legacy of our founder, Maurice J. "Sully" Sullivan, who gave generously to the community, and encouraged the spirit of giving in others," said Jenai Wall, president of Foodland.
Donations for each organization will be announced during the week of Oct. 6, Sullivan's birthday.
For information, call 732-0791.
'Sports Day' event planned in Palama
Families will get the opportunity to talk story with a panel of physicians, coaches and athletic trainers at Straub Foundation's "Sports Day, the Healthy Way," from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 21 at Palama Settlement.Special guests Tita Ahuna, Clay Cockett, Skippa Diaz, Blaine Gaison, Dave Shoji, David Tanuvasa and Jason Tittle will conduct sports clinics, while community health and athletic experts will provide advice and hold workshops.
Children can participate in "KidFit," a health appraisal activity. The first 100 children (8 and above) to pre-register will receive a free T-shirt.
Free food and door prizes will be available. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Call 524-6755 for more information or to pre-register.
IN 1809, 19-year-old John Palmer Parker of Newton, Mass., set out to see the world. Five years later, he settled in Hawaii -- and later wed the High Chiefess Rachel Kipikane, whose grandfather Kamehameha the Great gifted them many acres of Big Island land. Home of the paniolo
Today, Parker Ranch maintains a cattle-raising and paniolo-working operation in the Kamuela (Waimea) area. And though it now struggles with impacts from a prolonged drought and staffing concerns, the ranch -- which opened for business in 1847 -- still covers more than 167,000 acres containing some 35,000 cattle.
When longtime owner and Parker descendant Richard Smart died in 1992 at age 79, he left the ranch to a handful of beneficiary groups instead of his survivors, with three trustees as managers. Forbes Magazine at the time reported assets at more than $300 million. After Smart's sons sued the estate in 1993, a private out-of-court settlement was reached.
Among Smart's prominent ancestors, according to "Hawaiian Heritage" by Kathleen Dickenson Mellen, was Samuel Kealiilani Parker, also called "Kamuela, Lord of Mana." A legendary member of King Kalakaua's court and later minister of foreign affairs under Queen Liliuokalani, Kamuela conducted a court of his own said to rival that of Iolani Palace, full of lavish and continuous entertaining.
Tax collections drop in fiscal year's first month
Hawaii starts off the new fiscal year with state tax collections dropping 15.3 percent, according to figures released this morning by the state.The big drop, however, is due to monthly general fund deposits being counted in August, because the last day of July fell on a weekend.
"That explained the sharp decline in July collections," says Ray Kamikawa, state tax director.
Other taxes also dropped however, including corporate income taxes which fell $3.8 million and individual income taxes which dropped $2.4 million.
Tax collections for fiscal 1999 were up only 0.2 percent.
The Council on Revenues, which sets the limits of how much money is available for the state to spend, has projected that in this fiscal year, general fund deposits will be 1.6 percent less than last year.
Marijuana advocates want Yamashiro out
A Big Island resident wants to impeach Hawaii County Mayor Stephen Yamashiro and six County Council members for allegedly failing to review the marijuana eradication program annually as required by county charter.Roger Christie, who supports the legalization of marijuana, said he filed a lawsuit on behalf of more than 120 petitioners and himself in Big Island Circuit Court yesterday.
The six Council members named in the lawsuit were the ones who voted in favor of funding the Green Harvest program, Christie said.
"I think there would be grounds for impeachment if the mayor and Council did not support the enforcement of marijuana laws," said Marcia Reynolds, the mayor's spokeswoman.
Soldiers from Hawaii headed for Alaska
About 300 Schofield Barracks soldiers will leave tomorrow for two weeks of training in Alaska.The soldiers are members of the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment and will take part in exercise "Arctic Raider" at Fort Wainwright.
The Hawaii troops will join with two Alaska-based units for the training, which will include a four-day field exercise.
It will give the Hawaii-based troops a chance to train in a different landscape and climate, the Army said.
New freeway offramp opening in Mililani
A new H-2 Freeway offramp opens tomorrow to take Honolulu-bound motorists to Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka.The existing offramp will be closed. Motorists are advised to observe all signs and traffic control devices and use extreme caution.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Two murder suspects enter 'not guilty' pleas
Two Waialua men charged with what is believed to be the drug-related murders of two missing North Shore men pleaded not guilty today in Circuit Court via closed-circuit video.Benjamin Tandal, 20, and Edward Vidal, 33, each have been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. Both are being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center on $1 million bail, cash only.
Judge Victoria Marks set their trial for the week of Oct. 11. The men are accused of killing Steve Tozon and Tranquilino Bati Jr., who have been missing since June 1997.
A witness told investigators Tozon and Bati were gunned down in a Waialua home in June 1997.
The killings are allegedly connected to a North Shore drug ring that netted $2.5 million in drug sales during three months in 1998. Police believe the leader of the drug ring is a former prison guard who is also expected to be charged with murder.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Tandal and Vidal face life without the possibility of parole.
Police hunt gunman who fired at two men
Police are searching for a gunman who fired several shots at two men in Waianae last night.Two men, 25 and 39, were at the beach at 87-721 Farrington Highway at 9:15 p.m. when several men jumped out of two cars and approached them, police said.
One suspect began shooting at the men's car. The suspect then fired at them as they ran away, police said. No injuries were reported.
Michelle Anne Bensinger
BODY FOUNDBody found in Waialua cane field is identified
The woman whose decomposed body was found in a Waialua field Tuesday has been identified as 24-year-old Michelle Anne Bensinger of Waikiki.Her body was discovered along Cane Haul Road, near Kaukonahua Road. Officials believed it had been there at least two weeks.
In March, Bensinger reported her Honda sedan stolen from Hickam Air Force Base. The car, with Hawaii license plates GVD 858, was never recovered, police said.
Police say there is no evidence of foul play, but they are still seeking people who may have seen Bensinger in the past few months.
Waipahu man charged in beating death
Police yesterday charged a 20-year-old man in connection with the beating death of 18-year-old Vaovai Faateleupu at a Waipahu 7-Eleven store .Tali Fai, of Waipahu, was charged with second-degree murder and is being held on $200,000 bail, police said. A second suspect, 17, also was charged.
Faateleupu was taken to Queen's Hospital in critical condition Friday night . He died on Monday.
