Millennium Moments
TODAY, "pau hana" is a commonly understood term that means -- ahh -- the end of the workday. Talking pidgin
It's also a phrase whose wide use and popularity grew from Hawaii's plantation history, when laborers from different cultures and languages forged pidgin English.
Most words or phrases of pidgin included elements of Hawaiian and/or English words; later, other languages also were mixed in as more foreign contract workers arrived.
Here's a sampling of the field pidgin, according to "A History of Hawaii," by Linda Menton and Eileen Tamura:
"hanawai": to irrigate.
Bail now $1 million for suspect in slayings
A 39-year-old man arrested over the weekend for his alleged involvement in one of four murders tied to a North Shore drug ring had his bail raised to $1 million today.Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty granted the state's request to hold the suspect on high bail until a Sept. 30 hearing to set aside his guilty plea on an unrelated auto theft. The man was arrested while in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center.
Deputy prosecutor Victor Bakke argued that if the suspect posted $10,000 bail, there is no guarantee he will appear for the September hearing on a "manini" auto theft charge if he is under investigation for the more serious offense of second-degree murder.
Bakke also argued that the suspect poses a danger to the witnesses in the ongoing murder investigation.
Deputy public defender Ed Harada opposed the high bail saying his client has not yet been charged in connection with the murders.
Harada asked that his client not be punished just because he knows the men who have been indicted. Police have until today to charge or release him.
The man was arrested for the murder of John Wailehua-Hansen whose car was found abandoned in Pearl City earlier this year.
He is the fourth person arrested in connection with a series of suspected murders police believe are connected to a North Shore drug ring.
Hansen has been missing since March 1997 when he left to do repair work at the Waialua home of 35-year-old Styran Rivera, a former prison guard currently in federal custody for drug offenses.
The two other men, Benjamin Tandal, 20, and Edward Vidal, 33, were indicted last week in the murders of Steve Tozon and Tranquilino Bati Jr. They are being held on $1 million bail, cash only.
Rivera pleaded not guilty yesterday in federal court to two counts of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Trucking firm owner ordered to pay $5,000
Circuit Judge Elwin Ahu has fined William H.C. Campbell Jr., owner of Hiki No Trucking, $5,000 in a tax case.Campbell failed to file his public service company tax returns for 1996 and 1997, the state Tax Department said. Campbell agreed to pay the fine within a year and was granted a deferred acceptance of no contest plea.
Altonn wins HMA honor for medical reporting
The Hawaii Medical Association has presented its distinguished medical reporting award to Helen Altonn, Honolulu Star-Bulletin health and science writer.Altonn was honored for her coverage of the Aloha Medical Mission, an expedition by a group of local and mainland doctors who provided free surgery and other medical care to people in the Philippines last November.
HMA President Dr. Patricia Chinn said that beyond that story, Altonn was chosen for recognition because of her history of covering medical news.
"As a health reporter she has, over the years, delved into issues that were particularly meaningful, such as . . . Medicaid. She looked at it from the patient and physician standpoint, what it meant for government, for legislators. She looks at the impact on all parties."
The award is given annually to recognize people who are creative in conveying to the public messages related to health and medicine.
Certificates and $500 cash awards were given in four categories at the HMA council meeting Aug. 6.
Also honored were Dick Allgire of KITV for coverage of stereotactic radiosurgery, Bill Harby of Island Scene Magazine for HMSA members for a story on emergency room doctors, and Dr. Marc Shlachter, who appears on KHVH radio as "The Country Doctor," for a presentation on teen-age pregnancies.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Woman faces two counts of making bomb threats
Police arrested a 25-year-old woman in connection with two bomb threats at the Mililani American Savings Bank.An investigation connected the woman to the bomb threats on April 23 and July 30 at the Kahelu Avenue bank, police said.
The woman was booked yesterday on two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and released pending further investigation.
Teen reports sex assault at Ala Moana Beach Park
A 17-year-old girl yesterday reported being sexually assaulted by a man inside a bathroom at Ala Moana Beach Park.The girl told police she met the man at a beach party on Saturday. She said she was sexually assaulted after the man took her to the bathroom.
Police search for man who robbed Kaimuki bank
A man who robbed the Kaimuki branch of Hawaii National Bank yesterday continues to be sought by the FBI and police.The lone male entered the bank at 3450 Waialae Ave. about 9:15 a.m. He told a teller he had a gun but none was seen.
He received an undisclosed sum and left.
He was in his mid-30s, about 5 feet 6, 150 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 521-1411 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300. The holdup was Hawaii's 25th bank robbery of the year.
