Millennium Moments
THE majority of plants and animals native to Hawaii are found nowhere else on Earth. But many are in danger of extinction. Rare species
While Hawaii is less than 1 percent of the United States' land mass, it has more than 30 percent of the federally listed threatened or endangered species: more than 360 of some 1,104 listed, according to Loyal A. Mehrhoff in "Atlas of Hawaii," edited by Sonia and James Juvik.
Hawaii's state bird, the Hawaiian goose, or nene, and the state flower, the yellow hibiscus, are among the endangered species.
The federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and a similar state law aim to prevent rare native species from going extinct. Among the ongoing efforts, Mehrhoff notes: Fencing of native forests and removal of alien goats and pigs at Maui's Haleakala and the Big Island's Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; alien species control in refuges and reserves; and propagation of endangered birds, plants and snails.
Water main break cuts Waialae-area service
Eighty homes in the Waialae area were without water today because of an 8-inch water main break.A break at Pili Place and Paula Drive was reported at 9:14 a.m., city water officials said. The water was expected to be back on by late afternoon.
Traffic was being diverted in the area while crews repaired the break.
Conference scheduled on campaign reform
A group of citizen advocacy organizations will sponsor the Hawaii Conference on Campaign Reform from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 2 at Church of the Crossroads.Bob Watada, director of the Hawaii State Campaign Spending Commission, will discuss "Where the Loopholes Live," and Common Cause director Larry Meacham will explore the need for reforms.
Also speaking will be Jeff Mikulina, Sierra Club Hawaii director; Laure Dillon, executive director of Hawaii Clean Elections; state Sen. Les Ihara, and Brian Schatz, executive director of the Hawaii Elections Project.
Call Dillon at 941-7322 for reservations.
Maui's Haleakala run will benefit the park
The Earth Maui 5K Run takes place Sept. 25 to help protect ecosystems of Haleakala National Park.Proceeds go to Friends of Haleakala National Park.
Participants also may walk the course from Rice Park to Keokea Park in Kula.
Cost for early registration is $20 for individuals age 13 and over, $15 for children 12 and under.
Late registration is $25.
Packet pickup and late registration takes place at the Footlocker in Kaahumanu Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 24, and at Rice Park from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Sept. 25.
Call 579-8190 on Maui for applications.
Correction
Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole was Hawaii's second delegate to Congress, not the first as was reported in a cutline yesterday.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Police/Fire
Kaneohe man charged with sex assault of child
Police yesterday charged a Kaneohe man in connection with the sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl.Darrell S.C. Young, 40, was charged with first-degree sexual assault, police said. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
He was arrested yesterday at his Alokahi Place home for Friday's alleged incident.
Two critically injured in single-car H-1 crash
Investigators believe speed was a factor in a crash that critically injured two people last night on the H-1 Freeway.The driver, a 26-year-old Kaneohe woman, and the unidentified male passenger were townbound on H-1 when they lost control of their car near the Kunia Road exit at 8:52 p.m., police said.
The car spun out and slammed into a dirt mound and cement barrier along the makai shoulder, police said. The car then rolled over and came to rest on its roof.
The woman suffered head injuries and a broken right hand. The man suffered head and internal injuries, police said.
They were not wearing seatbelts. Both were airlifted to Queen's Hospital.
Traffic investigators are asking witnesses to call 529-3499.
In other news...
Police are searching for a woman who started a fire inside the Pearl City Daiei supermarket at about 10:25 p.m. yesterday and then fled in a car with a male driver. Fire damage at the store was minimal.
The Courts
Justices suspend injury-suit attorney
The Hawaii Supreme Court has suspended Maui attorney Burton D. Gould from the practice of law for five years for ethical misconduct in representing a personal injury client.Gould settled his client's lawsuit and signed the client's name on a check without the client's knowledge, according to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and Gould falsely informed the Circuit Court that he had his client's permission to dismiss the suit.
Chinese nationals deny alien-smuggling charges
Three Chinese nationals indicted on charges they attempted to smuggle aliens into the United States pleaded not guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court.Qin Chen, Fei Wu Song and Wen Liang Chen are being held without bail because they are considered flight risks, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Omer Poirier.
The three were detained after the Coast Guard, responding to a distress call on Aug. 24 from the Yu Xing No. 2, discovered more than 100 Chinese nationals aboard.
Doctor admits he didn't file excise tax returns
A Honolulu physician has changed his plea to guilty on misdemeanor charges of failing to file his annual general excise tax returns for 1995 and 1996.Dr. Albert Honda, an anesthesiologist, agreed to pay a fine of $15,000 for each year, according to the state Department of Taxation.
