Millennium Moments
SHHHH, quiet please -- so as to not disturb the tranquil haven in the heart of Honolulu, the Hawaii State Library. Voluminous place
Within the library's green-tiled roof, copper doors and columned portico are various reading and reference rooms, as well as an open-sky interior courtyard.
The Greco-Roman-style building was built in 1913 in the style of many U.S. banks, courthouses and libraries of the time, according to "Architecture in Hawaii" by Rob Sandler, Julie Mehta and Frank S. Haines.
Like 2,800 other libraries in the United States, Australia and Fiji, it was built with a $100,000 grant from philanthropist and U.S. Steel founder Andrew Carnegie.
Library furniture and books were purchased by some $27,000 raised here, the authors say.
Honolulu architect Henry L. Kerr and Henry Whitfield, Carnegie's brother-in-law, designed the original building.
Renovations and expansions came in 1927 under architects C.W. Dickey and Rothwell Kangeter & Lester; and additional work in 1991 by Aotani & Associates.
Strike down the bandstand
Conference on renewable energy set
Renewable energy is the subject of a Nov. 5-6 conference at Chaminade University.Sponsored by Life of the Land, sessions will take place at Mamiya Theatre. Donald Aitken, senior scientist for renewable energy, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Mike Shames, executive director, Utility Consumer Action Network, will be keynote speakers.
Seiji Naya, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, will speak on how a renewable energy industry could jump-start Hawaii's lagging economy.
John Crouch, Pacific director of PowerLight, will discuss technological advances in the lighting industry.
Developing a strategy to invigorate the Hawaii economy without harming the environment is the conference aim.
Congress gives final OK for Ford Island project
Congress has given final approval to the proposed development of Ford Island by private developers and the military, a plan Hawaii lawmakers say will be an economic boon for the state.Military officials expect the project to generate more than half a billion dollars in construction and other spinoff economic activity over 12 years.
The legislation allows private developers to finance and build housing for 700 military families and 1,000 single service members on Navy land at Ford Island. The military would rent units from the developers.
Approval came yesterday as the Senate passed a $289 billion defense authorization bill. The House signed off on the plan last week, and President Clinton is expected to sign the bill soon.
The bill also includes $228.7 million for military construction projects in Hawaii, including $49 million for renovations at Schofield Barracks and $15.9 million for initial work on new headquarters for the commander in chief of the Pacific forces, a project that is expected to cost $100 million to complete.
Maemae School wins GTE recycling contest
For the third straight year, Maemae School has taken first-place honors in GTE Hawaiian Tel's phone book recycling contest.A $3,000 prize will be given to Maemae during an award presentation at the school at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
GTE Hawaiian Tel also will present a total of $12,250 to 10 other schools that placed in the contest.
Forty-seven Oahu schools participated and collected 444,837 books, about 30 percent of all telephone directories distributed in 1998 here.
GTE said the returned books are equivalent to 7,500 trees.
Police, Army recognize brave, helpful citizens
Two men who rescued a woman from a burning downtown apartment received Certificates of Merit yesterday from acting police Chief William Clark.Legalo Aivao, a security guard, and Won Sang Shin, a maintenance worker, saved 54-year-old Alice Bretschneider from her third-floor apartment at 1170 Nuuanu Ave. on April 22.
Also honored at the ceremony were Sean Thompson and John Johnson for detaining a man who tried to kidnap a woman.
Additionally, the Army presented a Certificate of Recognition to Jim Josey of the Scientific Investigation Section of the Honolulu Police Department for helping to identify articles recovered in Vietnam.
Attorney pleads no contest in tax case
A Honolulu attorney in a state tax case has changed his plea from not guilty to no contest.Stephen K. Yamada on April 3, 1997, signed an installment agreement with the state Department of Taxation for payment of a tax liability, the state said.
He subsequently made cash payments of $10,000 and $8,600 to lease a Jaguar automobile and paid over $18,600 in mortgage payments on a loan he was not legally liable for, according to the state.
The state said he committed the offense of Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax, punishable by a fine of up to $100,000, a prison sentence of up to five years or both.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 15.
Kapiolani facilities win 3-year accreditation
The Fetal Diagnostic Center and the Obstetrics/Gynecology Ultrasound Department at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children have received national accreditation for three years.The Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Commission of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine awarded the accreditation to the Kapiolani facilities for meeting nationally accepted standards.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Van strikes, kills woman on Waikoloa's main street
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii -- A woman died after being struck by a van as she crossed Paniolo Avenue, the main street of Waikoloa, at 9:53 p.m. yesterday, police said.She was not in a crosswalk and was wearing dark clothing.
The woman has been tentatively identified, but police are withholding her name pending confirmation.
The driver of the van that hit her, Diane Hooke, 45, of Waikoloa, was not injured.
Big Islanders warned of telephone scam
HILO -- Police are warning Big Islanders about a scam in which a caller offered to sell an elderly woman a $100 savings bond for $10 if she would provide her bank account number.The caller gave a toll-free number for "Transcontinental Ltd.," but when the woman called, there was no answer.
The woman did not accept the offer and lost no money.
Arrestee allegedly jumped on cars at dealership
Police last night arrested a man for allegedly damaging cars at Windward Honda.The man was seen jumping on the roofs and hoods of cars in the parking lot at 10:09 p.m., police said.
He caused more than $3,000 in damage to four cars.
The suspect was located nearby and arrested for second-degree criminal property damage.
Man, 26, at Queen's with gunshot wound
Police are investigating a 26-year-old man who went to Queen's Hospital this morning with a gunshot wound to the arm.He said he got shot "around the corner" while walking along a street at about 4:45 a.m.
Female suspect believed to have set 3 store fires
Police have released a composite drawing of the woman who is believed to have set three department store fires in the last two weeks.Police believe the woman set the fires inside JC Penney at Ala Moana on Sept. 11, Liberty House in Kailua on Sept. 19 and Daiei in Pearl City on Tuesday.
The woman is described as in her late teens, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 135 to 150 pounds, with a medium to heavy build. She has dark, curly hair in a bun and a fair complexion.
She was wearing a white T-shirt, jeans and dark shoes.
If you have information on the suspect, you can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
The Courts
City, mayor named in UPW complaint
The union representing blue-collar government workers is suing the city and Mayor Jeremy Harris for breach of contract.The complaint, filed in Circuit Court yesterday on behalf of the United Public Workers Local 646 in Unit 1, alleges the city failed to select arbitrators and set arbitration hearings involving more than 30 grievances stemming from the collective-bargaining agreement.
Thirty grievances have been filed since April 30, 1998. After exhausting its rights under the grievance process, UPW sought arbitration.
The UPW and city went to mediation instead and an agreement was reached in March. The city agreed to withdraw its challenge on whether all Unit 1 grievances filed after April 30 were subject to arbitration, select arbitrators and set hearings within 14 days of the notice to arbitrate.
The city failed to respond to the unions requests on two occasions, denying the right for employees to have a hearing on their grievance within 20 days, the suit said.
Gunman makes deal, admits to '98 slaying
A man accused of shooting another man twice in the head near Tantalus Lookout in August 1998 has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge under a plea agreement with the state.Tarval Webster yesterday pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a firearms charge. He faces 20 years imprisonment when sentenced Nov. 18, said Deputy Prosecutor Mark Nugent.
Webster initially faced life with the possibility of parole. He was charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 16 shooting death and robbery of Chih Kai Pan, 19. Police say the two allegedly were involved in selling drugs.
The state agreed to the reduced charge to ensure Webster received substantial jail time, Nugent said. "We didn't want him to walk."
Prosecutors believe Webster is dangerous. He has been implicated in other shootings, including one in which he is awaiting sentencing, Nugent said.
Nine months ago, Webster was tried and found guilty of attempted first-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony. He faces a minimum of 20 years in that case.
Prosecutors also believe Webster supplied a gun to associate James Kane III, who last month was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the "execution-style murder" of Larry Red Eagle near Waipahu High School in 1997. Webster was not charged in that case.
Circuit judge stepping down
Circuit Judge Melvin K. Soong has announced his intention to retire in December.Soong, 65, was appointed to the Circuit Court in May 1990 after nine years as a District Court judge. He was a deputy attorney general from 1963 to 1969 and deputy state tax director from 1969 to 1974. He also spent years in private law practice.
Soong retired from the U.S. Army Reserve after serving 30 years.
