Millennium Moments
FOR more than half a century, since World War II, the power trio of Hawaii's foundation has been tourism, agriculture and military spending -- though not always in that order through the decades. State's livelihood
Through statehood in 1959, military led the way, followed by plantation agriculture, then tourism.
But the coming of jet service from the West Coast changed that. By 1967, tourism surpassed agriculture; by 1976, it had outgrown military spending; and by 1979, it was bigger than the other two combined, notes Charles M. Langlas in "Atlas of Hawaii," edited by Sonia and James Juvik.
As tourism boomed after statehood, so did it transform Honolulu from a low-rise, laid-back town crawl, to a high-rise, built-up urban sprawl. And as mainland tourism contributed to the development scene here in the 1970s, so did Japanese investment in the booming decades of the 1970s and 1980s, transforming Hawaii into a developer's boomtown.
At the cusp of the new millennium, tourism today is on the brink of uncertainty, as visitor numbers flag and dip.
Former University of Hawaii quarterback Raphel Cherry will be given a new trial in Arkansas in connection with the murder of his estranged wife. Former UH athlete getting new
trial in wife's slayingCircuit Judge Marion Humphrey yesterday granted a defense motion for a new trial because jurors discussed facts of the case before they began deliberations, said deputy prosecuting attorney John Hout.
Cherry, who went on to play in the NFL for Washington and Detroit, was convicted of first-degree murder Aug. 25 after jurors deliberated for about two hours.
He later was sentenced to life in prison.
Hout opposed the defense motion, and said the jurors testified that their discussion was "about relatively minor details and it really had no bearing on the outcome." It occurred after attorneys had presented evidence but before closing arguments.
Prosecutors plan to appeal the decision to the Arkansas Supreme Court, he said. The new trial is scheduled to begin in March. Defense attorney Dale Adams could not be reached for comment.
Cherry, 37, is charged in the December strangulation death of his wife, Jerri, 25, at their Jacksonville, Ark., home.
The state is seeking bidders to design and operate an Internet commerce portal that would encompass all state government services. Bids accepted to run
state online serviceGov. Ben Cayetano issued the request for proposals yesterday. He said putting state government online is a big step that will make it more efficient and productive. Once in place, for example, it will allow residents to file for business registrations and pay licensing fees 24 hours a day.
The plan is to have the new service up and running within a year, said Joe Blanco, the governor's special adviser for high technology development, who is overseeing the selection of a vendor.
For a copy of the bid proposal, contact the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs at 586-2850.
Kilauea resumes east rift eruption
HILO -- Kilauea volcano has resumed its east rift eruption after an 11-day pause, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory announced.Lava was gushing out of a hole in an old tube at the rate of one to two cubic yards per second and flowing on the surface at the 2,200-foot elevation.
The flow is expected to provide spectacular nighttime viewing when it reaches and flows over steep-sloped Pulama Pali, the observatory said.
The recent pause began with a series of earthquakes just uphill from Puu Oo crater indicated a change.
Scientists determined that magma, rather than following its normal course through underground passageways, had created an intrusion into a newly created passageway.
Yesterday lava reached the surface at Puka Nui and two other unnamed sites near Puu Oo shortly after noon.
Despite the resumption of activity, the observatory commented, "Volcanic tremor (shaking of the ground due to magma movement) is still remarkably low, attesting to the sluggish nature of the eruption."
Cop investigated for alleged sex assault
A 41-year-old Honolulu police officer is being investigated for an alleged sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl.The girl reported accepting a ride from the man on Tuesday, according to police reports. He drove her to Campbell Industrial Park where he allegedly sexually assaulted her at about 5:30 p.m.
The officer, a 10-year veteran with the force assigned to the Waianae District, was relieved of his badge and gun and has been assigned to a desk job in the department while the investigation continues, said police.
Police Internal Affairs division is handling the case which was classified as a first-degree sexual assault.
Electric Light to buy wind-generated power
HILO -- The Hawaii Electric Light Co. has announced an agreement to buy wind-generated power from Kahua Power Partners. The company will build a $17-million, 10-megawatt wind farm at Kahua Ranch in North Kohala.
Planning conference to be held on Oct. 2
Plan it, says the Hawaii chapter of the American Planning Association.It's sponsoring a "hands-on" conference, called "From the Ground Up," from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 2 at Kapiolani Community College.
"After the Vision ... Now What?" is the focus. Panelists will relate how they found needed resources in and out of their neighborhood to accomplish desired community goals.
The conference fee is $25 for community members, $30 for professionals. Continental breakfast and lunch are included. Call 523-5866.
50 acres in Lanai City to be made home lands
A deed-signing ceremony on Lanai on Tuesday will turn over 50 acres to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in Lanai City.The land, now owned by Castle & Cooke and the Lanai Co., is in two adjoining parcels and will become the first Lanai lands in the Hawaiian Homes inventory. It will be used for affordable housing and homesteading by native Hawaiians.
The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act established the native Hawaiian homestead program in 1921, but it did not designate any lands for this purpose on Lanai. The Tuesday ceremony will be part of the Hawaiian Homes Commission meeting at Hale Kupuna O Lanai, beginning at 9 a.m.
New varieties of corn to be offered to public
Free samples of new and improved varieties of sweet, field and supersweet corn will be offered to the public tomorrow at a "Biotechnology in the Corn Field" event in Waimanalo.The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is hosting the field day from 8 a.m. to noon at its Waimanalo Research Station, 41-698 Ahiki St.
For more information, call Jim Brewbaker, 956-7985, or Sarah Nourse, 956-2156.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Suspect arrested in fires at three Oahu stores
Police yesterday arrested a 23-year-old Waianae woman in connection with three suspicious department store fires this month.The arrest comes a day after police released a composite drawing of a possible suspect.
She is accused of setting fires inside the Ala Moana Center JC Penny store, Liberty House in Kailua and the Pearl City Daiei.
Detectives believe she set the fires to divert attention while she shoplifted.
American Savings Bank's Kakaako branch robbed
American Savings Bank's Kakaako branch was robbed yesterday of an undisclosed amount of cash by a man who presented a demand note to a teller.The robbery at 929 Queen St. was reported at 11:32 a.m.
The suspect is in his late 20s, is between 5-feet-7 and 5-feet-10 tall, weighs about 165 pounds and has what appears to be a mole on his right cheek.
Big Isle police identify pedestrian hit by car
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii -- Police have identified a woman struck by a car Wednesday night in Waikoloa as Loreta Montano, 48, of Waikoloa. The investigation of the accident is continuing. The driver of the car was not injured.
Home in North Kohala destroyed by fire
HAWI, Hawaii -- Fire destroyed a three-bedroom home on Kinnersley Road in North Kohala yesterday, police said. None of the four residents was at home, they said. The cause is under investigation.
