Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, August 25, 1999

Millennium Moments

Islands a k a

OVER the years, foreign influences have altered the names of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands away from native origins.

The Hawaiian name for Midway Atoll, for instance, is Pihemanu, meaning "the loud din of birds." Quite fitting, for like many of its northwestern-island neighbors, Pihemanu is a refuge for birds.

Here are traditional names for other Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, according to Larry L. Kimura in "Atlas of Hawaii" by Sonia and James Juvik:

Mokumanamana: The original name for Necker Island, a basaltic islet with heiau.
Kauo: Commonly called Laysan Island, this flat island bordered by sand and surf and harboring a pond resembles a cracked-open egg with yolk surrounded by its white.
Kanemiloha'i: Native Hawaiian lore says this northwestern-most isle is where Pele's brother, Kanemiloha'i, was left to stand guard on the voyage to Hawaii from Kahiki. Today, the island is known as Kure Atoll.

Support ship for submersible
to hold 'open house'

The Japanese vessel R/V Yokosuka, support ship for the Shinkai 6500 -- the world's deepest-diving manned submersible -- will hold a free "open house" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Pier 2.

Japanese, Hawaii and mainland scientists have been doing collaborative studies of the sea floor around the Hawaiian Islands with the submersible.

The Japan Marine Science and Technology Center is sponsoring the program. Dr. Jiro Naka is chief scientist.

New findings are expected on the islands' volcanoes and giant landslides and the origin and geological structure of the Hawaiian archipelago.

Entrance for the "open house" will not be permitted after 4 p.m. Low-heeled shoes are recommended. A parking lot near Pier 5 or any lot around the Aloha Tower area can be used.

Special V-J Day observance
planned aboard Mighty Mo

The 54th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked Sept. 2 with special ceremonies on the battleship Missouri.

The ceremonies will begin at 8:45 a.m. on the decks of the Missouri now berthed at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. Trolley service will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will be free, along with admission.

It was on the decks of the Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945, that the Japanese unconditionally surrendered.

Speakers will be U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, a decorated member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team; Richard Fiske, a Marine bugler who witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, from the deck of the USS West Virginia; William Paty, who parachuted into Normandy with the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day, June 6, 1944; Fred Weyand, retired Army chief of staff who was a major in the China-Burma-India theater; and Robert Bush, who earned the Medal of Honor during the battle of Okinawa on May 2, 1945.

Also on Sept. 2, a fund-raising dinner to benefit the Battleship Missouri Memorial will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $200 a seat.

The evening will include a tribute to World War II veterans and the USS Missouri, a videotaped message from NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw, who authored the best-selling book "The Greatest Generation," and remarks by Inouye.

Cannon Club declared excess Army property

The Secretary of the Army has declared the Cannon Club on the slopes of Diamond Head to be excess property, bringing the 7.65-acre property a step closer to acquisition for state park use.

No other military service requested the parcel by a deadline reached Monday, so the U.S. General Services Administration will offer it to all federal agencies, according to an Army announcement. Barring any claim, the agency will declare it surplus land which will lead to its transfer to the state.

The Cannon Club, an officer's club for decades, was closed two years ago. The state has proposed using the site as a visitor center.

Kauai's Gen. Shinseki to be honored Sept. 10

Kauai-born Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki will be honored Sept. 10 by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii with the chamber's highest honor -- the Order of the Splintered Paddle -- at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom starting at 10:30 a.m.

It will be Shinseki's first visit home since rising in June to his position as head of the Army.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Bonsai plants and lawn lanterns stolen

Police are investigating a recent series of bonsai plant and stone lantern lawn decoration thefts in east Honolulu.

There have been at least 12 reported thefts in the past six months.

Police are also looking for information on a male suspect who is breaking into parked cars at the Scandia Condominium at 204 Makee Road in Waikiki.

Last Friday, the suspect stole $400 worth of items from vehicles.

Anyone with information on either case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Police make arrest for alleged threats

Police yesterday arrested a man for allegedly threatening another man with a handgun while driving in Waipahu.

The suspect reportedly pulled up beside the man at Hiapo Street and aimed a black handgun at him on Aug. 5, police said.

Charcoal fire causes $5,000 damage

WAILUKU -- A load of kiawe charcoal burned and caused an estimated $5,000 damage to a business in Waikapu yesterday.

Firefighters took about three hours to put out the fire at Maui Charcoal after receiving the alarm at 1:33 p.m., said Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro. Cordeiro said the cause of the fire was under investigation.