Millennium Moments
Today, the administering of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 is complex, mired by red tape, misuse of lands, vague land inventories and decades of native Hawaiian frustration. The waiting list is long, and many elders have died without the return of aina. Aina victory
However, when the act was passed, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, its major proponent, and his people had high hopes. As delegate to the U.S. Congress, Kuhio had joined forces with Hawaii's Republican sugar interests to amend the Organic Act, which had made Hawaii a territory.
Kuhio hoped to open more lands for native homesteading; the sugar growers were hoping to extend the acreage amounts and length of leases on government lands, due to expire between 1917 and 1921, according to "A History of Hawaii" by Linda Menton and Eileen Tamura.
Both won with passage of the 1920 act. Among its main points:
Designating 203,300 acres of public land for homesteading.
Navy scientists discuss undersea sonar tests
The U.S. Navy will discuss proposed undersea sonar tests -- which critics believe may be harmful to whales -- at an open house beginning at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the University of Hawaii Campus Center.Chris Clark, Cornell University scientist in charge of the project, and Joe Johnson, project manager, will be on hand at the Campus Center, Room 220, to discuss the draft environmental impact statement.
The sonar system is needed to track submarines, the Navy said.
AlohaCare to take over its own administration
AlohaCare in the next year will gradually assume responsibility for its administrative services, now handled by a mainland company.The services include financial management of the health plan, the MIS system and administration of employee payroll and benefits.
John McComas, AlohaCare chief executive officer, said the shift from mainland-based Lifemark to in-house administrative services is expected to create new jobs in Hawaii.
He said the change "is good news for our employees, our members, our providers and for all of Hawaii. ...
"Although Lifemark has done a good job of managing AlohaCare's administrative services, the time has come for AlohaCare to take on the responsibility to begin managing these services for itself."
McComas said the move is a step toward the AlohaCare Board's vision of being fully self-sufficient.
AlohaCare is a nonprofit company formed in 1994 to serve state QUEST health care clients exclusively. It has more than 30,000 medical members and 26,000 dental members.
Each of the state's nine community health centers is represented on the board of directors to ensure that needs of the low-income population are met.
Stroke team awarded $9,700 for education
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii-Stroke Team has won an award of more than $9,700 for stroke awareness efforts in Honolulu.The Hawaii team was one of 28 recipients chosen from more than 65 applications nationally for the National Stroke Association's "Be Stroke Smart Community Education Award."
The association is making funding available for the first time to educate the public about stroke prevention, treatment and recovery.
Proposed rules would affect recreational sites
An informational briefing on the proposed amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines concerning recreational facilities will be held from 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow at McCoy Pavilion.Francine Wai, executive director of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, will discuss the U.S. Access Board's proposal to add a special application section for newly constructed and altered recreation facilities, such as amusement, sports and exercise facilities.
The proposal also amends existing provisions and will add provisions for saunas, steam rooms, benches, and boat and ferry docks. For more information on this free presentation, call 586-8121.
Japanese Chamber's art exhibit starts today
The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce will present its 21st annual art exhibition, "Commitment to Excellence," beginning today through Sept. 17 at the Amfac Plaza Gallery.The show will feature the work of 20 invited artists, in addition to two-and three-dimensional works of local artists that will be judged.
Award winners will be announced at the opening reception tonight.
Amfac Towers is located at 745 Fort Street Mall. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Taking Notice
Fund for the Pacific Century, a nonprofit organization, has selected 26 for a fellows program designed to identify, encourage and help develop future Hawaii leaders. The participants will work with senior community, social and government leaders to explore solutions for the state's problems.
The fellows are:
Heidi M. Ballendorf, 36, Maui United Way president; Clementina D. Ceria, 40, UH-Manoa assistant professor; Hugh H. Dunn, 33, Washington Middle School vice principal; J. Kalani English, 32, Maui Council member; Theresa Julia Janowicz, 39, Hawaii Community Services Council program director; Taeyong Matthew Kim, 38, Environmental Communications Inc. vice president.
Jonathan Kobayashi, 30, associate attorney with Kobayashi Sugita & Goda; Deborah Mary Lim, 33, Aloha Island Air pilot; Dierdre Mamiya, 34, DLNR assistant division administrator; Regina L. Mangieri, 24, Pacific Business News editor; Lisa T. Maruyama, 29, Pacific & Asian Affairs Council executive director.
David M. Matsuura, 36, state senator (South Hilo-Puna); K. Rae McCorkle, 37, partner in law firm of McCorriston Miho Miller Mukai; John Mills Morgan, 42, Kualoa Ranch Inc. president; Mark K. Mukai, 36, partner in law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine; Virendra Nath, 44, HDEP International president.
Lloyd M. Okazaki, 35, Central Pacific Bank assistant vice president; Michael Onofrietti, 37, AIG Hawaiian Insurance Co. vice president; Brian L. Sen, 35, Sen Plex Corp. president; Roy J.L.Y. Tijoe, 35, partner in law firm of Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel; state Education Board member Garrett Toguchi, 38, executive director of the ARC in Hawaii.
Alice M. Tse, 40, UH associate professor; Kevin J.Y. Unemori, 44, Friendly Isle Contracting president; Jyoti "Jojo" Watumull, 36, New American T-Shirt Co. vice president; Vernon Y.C. Wong, 39, American Express Financial vice president; Ian K.P. Yee, Xerox Corp. marketing director.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Critically injured woman found; foul play involved
Police are searching for suspects in connection with the attempted murder of a 20-year-old woman found injured and unconscious alongside the H-2 Freeway yesterday.The woman was found lying on the ground near the Ka Uka Boulevard exit at about 8 a.m., police said. She was taken to Queen's Hospital where she was in critical condition last night. Investigators identified the woman through personal belongings, but are not releasing her name.
She was found by a passerby and an off-duty police officer, police said. Witnesses did not see any people or cars leaving the area.
Police say foul play is involved and have classified the case as an attempted murder.
Girl driver, 15, killed in Hilo as car overturns
HILO -- A 15-year-old Hilo girl was killed yesterday when she lost control of her car on Stainback Highway, ran off the road, and overturned, police said.The victim, Ashley Carvalho, was thrown from the car in the 2:43 p.m. accident. Police said she wasn't wearing a seat belt.
Her passenger, James Ontiveros, 18, of Hilo, was treated at Hilo Hospital and released.
Carvalho's death was the 22nd Big Island traffic fatality of the year.
Man trying somersault dies at Waikiki Beach
A 24-year-old man died after attempting a somersault into the waters last night at Waikiki Beach.The man and several friends were at the beach near the Royal Hawaiian Hotel when they went swimming at 11:14 p.m., police said. The man ran into the water and attempted a somersault, but was not able to complete the move and landed on his face.
He was taken to Straub Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Maui pig hunter falls down 50-foot cliff, dies
WAILUKU -- A 33-year-old Pukalani man died while pig hunting in east Maui yesterday morning.Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro said the man was hunting with a male companion and trying to climb down a cliff in pursuit of the pig when he apparently fell 50 feet into a stream bed near mile post marker 8 outside of Huelo.
Two-story abandoned apartment house burns
Fire investigators say a fire which swept through an abandoned two-story wooden apartment house in Makiki was arson.The fire started at about 10:27 p.m. last night at 1324 Piikoi St., investigators said. It caused $75,000 worth of damage.
A witness reported seeing a small blaze under the front porch of the home and firefighters said the home was fully engulfed when they arrived.
Fire crews found mattresses in the building and it appeared that homeless people were living there, said Fire Capt. Richard Soo.
No injuries were reported.
This was the second arson case in less than a week. On Wednesday, a fire was deliberately set at Action Glass & Aluminum at Sand Island. Investigators say the two cases do not appear to be related. No suspects have been arrested.
