Pentagon nixes Indonesian
By Gregg K. Kakesako
visit to Hawaii
Star-BulletinThe Pentagon has called off a scheduled visit to Hawaii next month by Indonesia's chief military leader because of the crisis in East Timor.
Navy Adm. Dennis Blair, Pacific Forces commander, delivered that message personally last night to Gen. Wiranto, chief of Indonesia's armed forces, before returning to Hawaii.
The enrollment of three Indonesian military members of the Defense Department's Asia-Pacific Center in Waikiki was also canceled due to the crisis and the resulting U.S. decision to cut military ties with Indonesia.
An Indonesian Army colonel, an Air Force colonel and a senior military civilian researcher were supposed to begin classes here Monday.
Nineteen Indonesian military members have attended the school in Hawaii since it was started in 1996.
Blair met with Wiranto to tell him the United States was suspending its military-to-military relationship with Indonesia.
No Pearl Harbor-based ships are in the East Timor region. The ammunition ship Kilauea is en route to East Timor from its home station in Guam.
Millennium Moments
LORD Byron in Hawaii? Yes, though this Lord Byron -- also known as George Anson -- was a cousin of the famed British poet. Lord Byron's cousin George
This Byron was a Royal Navy captain who commanded the 46-gun frigate Blonde, according to A. Grove Day in "History Makers of Hawaii."
When Kamehameha II (Liholiho) and his wife, Kamamalu, died of measles while visiting England, the London government charged Byron with carrying their bodies back to Hawaii in 1824.
While here, Byron visited the Big Island, where several sites were commonly named after him: Byron's Bay in Hilo, and Byron's Ledge at Kilauea Volcano, below the Volcano House hotel.
In 1825, Byron and his men were the first to study the region scientifically, Grove says.
And the crew also presented the first "magic-lantern show" in the islands, using a projector and slides brought along on Byron's ship.
s, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Japan, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Taiwan.
Group seeks to appeal Natatorium repairs
The Kaimana Beach Coalition is seeking an appeal of the July court ruling that cleared the way for restoration work to start at the city's Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium.The coalition, which opposes full restoration, has filed a motion with Circuit Judge Gary Chang requesting permission for an appeal.
Kaimana attorney James Bickerton said court rules indicate that the group may not have an automatic right to appeal and therefore needs Chang's permission. A hearing has been slated for Sept. 20.
The group believes no construction should take place at the natatorium until the entire design of the project is known and meets all government requirements.
Federal grant will fight alcohol sale to minors
Hawaii law enforcement efforts to target businesses that sell alcohol to minors will benefit from a $360,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department.The grant, announced by U.S. Rep. Patsy T. Mink, will also be used in public advertising to educate businesses and youth about the prohibitions against underaged drinking
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Man who left nightclub
Star-Bulletin staff
with attempted-murder victim
might be in militaryPolice are seeking a man who was seen leaving a Kapiolani nightclub with attempted-murder victim Evelyn Luka.
Witnesses at the Venus Night Club at 1349 Kapiolani Boulevard said Luka left with the man whose short haircut and cleancut appearance may indicate he is in military service, said Detective Alex Garcia.
Police released a sketch of the man described as appearing 30 to 35 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, and 185 pounds.
The pair left the club about 12:30 a.m. Monday and were seen getting into a late model green Nissan Pathfinder with a windshield sticker that may have been military, the detective said.
Garcia said the man may not be a suspect but may have given Luka a ride to another location. He was recognized as an occasional customer in the club.
Luka, 20, of Salt Lake remains in critical condition at Queen's Hospital with internal injuries so severe that the case was classified an attempted homicide. She was found at 8 a.m. Monday at the edge of the Ka Uka Boulevard exit from H-2 freeway.
Garcia said that a club stamp on Luka's arm was determined to be from the Venus Night Club where she was recognized as a frequent customer. Witnesses said Luka and the man were seen talking and holding hands in the club.
"She is a vivacious person and was seen holding hands with other people," Garcia said.
Luka called her husband at home at 12:30 a.m., saying she would catch a ride home with a friend, police said.
The man, or anyone who can identify him, is asked to call Garcia at 529-3390, or CrimeStoppers, 955-8300.
FBI agents believe the 31-year-old man accused of robbing six banks from Kapahulu to Kalihi within two hours yesterday is also responsible for two other bank heists within the past month. 6 banks hit in 2 hours;
man jailedThe man was apprehended yesterday in Mapunapuna at 12:04 p.m., about half an hour after the last robbery, the FBI said.
Authorities believe he is the suspect who robbed the Kaimuki branch of Hawaii National Bank on Aug. 16, and the Kaimuki branch of Bank of Hawaii on Sept. 1.
The FBI said the suspect is from Aiea, but according to police arrest records, his last known address is on the 46-000 block of Kahuhipa Street in Kaneohe.
Police said the suspect yesterday gave the tellers a demand note indicating he had a gun. The six tellers, however, did not see a weapon.
He then took off with an undisclosed amount of money.
The six reported bank robberies were at:
9:39 a.m., International Savings and Loan, at 909 Kapahulu Ave.
Police received information about the possible identity of the suspect and sent out an "all-points bulletin" alert with a description of his car.
Kalihi patrol officer Doreen Teramae spotted him driving in Mapunapuna and apprehended him.
He is expected to be charged in federal court today on several counts of robbery.
Police seek to identify body found in stream
Police investigators are trying to identify a man found dead and floating in Waikele Stream yesterday. Two crab fisherman found the man's body off Navy Access Road at noon, police said.No identification was found in the man's clothes: a light-colored, short-sleeve shirt, khaki shorts and black athletic shoes.
Police have tentatively ruled out foul play.
Three are charged with alien-smuggling
Three Chinese nationals accused of operating an illegal alien-smuggling ring were charged in a federal criminal complaint yesterday with attempting to smuggle aliens from China to the United States aboard a ship that became disabled and needed help.Charged were Song Fei Wu, Wen Liang Chen and Chen Qin, identified by passengers as the ship's captain, co-pilot and head enforcer, respectively, according to an affidavit.
Passengers said the smuggling fee was more than $30,000, the affidavit said.
