Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, October 1, 1999

Millennium Moments

Wonder woman

THOUGH it was a man's world at the start of this century, Cherilla Storrs Lowrey was among several women who began carving out civic niches of their own, pioneering the path for women's activism.

When her youngest son left for college in 1909, Lowrey began taking an active role in turning Honolulu's dusty, haphazard community into a green-filled, aesthetically pleasing community. Inspired by European cities, Lowrey and others founded the Outdoor Circle in 1912, with Lowrey as president for its first five years, according to "Notable Women of Hawaii" by Barbara Bennett Peterson.

She became one of the first two women appointed to the city Planning Commission, and when World War I broke out, Lowrey helped found the Women's War Council to provide wholesome recreation for U.S. soldiers, Peterson writes. Her other efforts included involvement in the YWCA and improving the lives of Japanese immigrant women.

Lowrey's simple motto, which inspired her and others: "Do something for the city in which you live and you will do something for yourself."

Thar she blows

By Ryan Yamashiro, Special to the Star-Bulletin
A two-car accident yesterday in the 1500 block of King
Street knocked down a fire hydrant and resulted in this
gusher. Water flooded a building and parts of King Street
near Kalakaua Avenue at about 5 p.m. Firefighters turned
off the water, and workers from the Board of Water
Supply got the hydrant back in operating condition.

It's that time again:
Jellyfish watch

A box jellyfish watch has been issued for Sunday through Wednesday for Oahu's shores.

The beaches expected to be hit the hardest are Ala Moana and Waikiki. Other affected areas include Hanauma Bay, Pokai Bay and Makaha.

Warning signs will be posted if jellyfish are found in any areas.

Swimmers and waders stung by a jellyfish should flush the area with vinegar.

Medical attention should be sought if the pain persists. City lifeguard stations are equipped to handle these stings.

The jellyfish are affected by the tides and the lunar cycle.

Busy stretch of H-1 freeway
to be repaved next summer

One of the busiest stretches of the H-1 freeway will be resurfaced next summer, but in an attempt to prevent traffic problems, most of the work will be done after peak commuting times.

The state Department of Transportation yesterday awarded to Kiewit Pacific Co. a $23.4 million contract to resurface the 2.8-mile stretch of H-1 from the Punchbowl Street exit to the Kapiolani Boulevard interchange.

Work on frontage roads and some limited freeway improvements likely will begin in January or February, with resurfacing of the freeway planned for next summer when traffic is lighter, said Marilyn Kali, state transportation spokeswoman.

All work on H-1 will be done between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., at night or on weekends.

Kali noted that during the state's last major resurfacing of the freeway, from Vineyard Boulevard to Likelike Highway three years ago, much of the work was done at night.

Water-supply work set for
Ala Wai, other areas

D&C Construction Inc. has been awarded a $569,620 contract to install a 12-inch water line along Ala Wai Boulevard from Ala Moana Boulevard to Kalakaua Avenue.

Work will begin in mid-October and is expected to be done in a year.

The project was one of five totaling $1.29 million awarded recently by the city Board of Water Supply.

Other projects awarded were contracts for:

$325,718 to install an 8-inch line along Komo Mai Drive from Waimano Home Road to Hookupa Street in Pearl City, to Delta Construction Corp. Work is already under way and will be completed by July.
$263,600 to replace pump control valves at the Waihee Line Booster at Kamehameha Highway and Waihee Road, to Inter-Island Environmental Services Inc. Work is under way and completion is slated for August.
$65,595 to install a 12-inch line along Malia Street, between Makai Koa Street and Aina Koa Avenue in Aina Haina, to Haron Engineering. Work is under way and slated to be done by March.
$57,000 to install a new flow meter at the Makapuu Tunnel above Kalanianaole Highway to Inter-Island Environmental Services. Work is under way and is expected to be done next year.

Isle-based soldiers get Thai-Timor assignment

Ten 25th Infantry Division soldiers have been assigned to support the Royal Thai Army as it prepares to participate in the international peacekeeping efforts in East Timor.

The soldiers from the 225th Forward Support Battalion and the 725th Main Support Battalion were to fly to an airfield in Thailand today to establish an airfield control group and assist the Thai military in preparing personnel, vehicles and equipment for transport. The soldiers are expected to be in Thailand for a month.

Already supporting the East Timor effort in Australia are 25th Division staff officers serving as planners, communications specialists from Pearl Harbor, and Fort Shafter Army Reserve civil affairs officers.

Appeals court upholds robber's life sentence

The sentence of Bryan Kaluna -- life imprisonment without parole for armed robbery --was affirmed yesterday by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Kaluna was convicted of the Sept. 15, 1995, robbery at the McCully Branch of Bank of America.

A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit had held that one portion of the Three Strikes Law was unconstitutional, an opinion rejected by yesterday's ruling, handed down after a panel of 11 circuit judges reheard the appeal.

Court documents show that Kaluna, 46, had eight prior convictions for robbery imposed on five different occasions before the Bank of America robbery.

In that 1995 holdup, tellers were ordered face down on the floor. A high-speed chase and shootout between police and Kaluna, his sister, Johnette Kaluna, and a third individual followed. All were arrested and prosecuted.

$4.7 million coming for welfare-to-work

Hawaii and Guam are getting money to help pay for a second year of welfare-to-work training programs they say will get people off public assistance and into the work force.

President Clinton announced yesterday in San Francisco that 14 states and Guam would receive $300 millions. Hawaii will receive $4.7 million, while Guam will get $545,000.

Civil defense's Price will step down today

Roy C. Price Sr., vice director of state civil defense, is retiring effective today after serving in his position for 12 years.

Price, 65, worked on the day-to-day operations of the civil defense system and emergency management infrastructure, the state Department of Defense said.

During his tenure, he assisted with four presidential and several state disaster declarations, helping obtain for Hawaii $606 million in federal disaster-relief funding and $14 million for community and state disaster mitigation programs.

He also implemented a comprehensive emergency management system and -- as part of a program to deal with potential Y2K problems to "lifeline" systems like electricity -- surveyed the private sector and co-oordinated state departments and agencies.

Maj. Gen. Edward Richardson, state Civil Defense director, noted that Price has been commended by, among others, the Army and the National Emergency Management Association.

"Roy Price, in service to his country and to his state, has consistently provided professional leadership and personal concern for the welfare and safety of our community," he said.

Corrections David Bailey Jr. and Dana Bailey, the couple who died in the plane crash on Mauna Loa Saturday, did not meet at work as was stated in a story Wednesday. They were introduced by mutual friends. Nancy Reagan is not a widow, as was reported in an article yesterday about President Reagan's biography.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Suspect caught in armed robbery of liquor store

Police have arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with yesterday's armed robbery of a Kalihi grocery store.

The suspect reportedly entered the Palama Street store and brandished a gun at 11:25 a.m., police said. He fled after taking money and a case of beer.

He was found about an hour later inside a unit at Mayor Wright Housing and arrested for first-degree robbery.

Main Bankoh branch robbed by man in drag

Bank of Hawaii's main branch at 111 S. King St. was robbed at noon yesterday by a man wearing a long black wig and lipstick, police said.

The suspect, a Caucasian-Asian man in his mid-20s, passed a demand note to a teller, then ran away carrying a money bag.

He was last seen in a women's restroom at a building at 900 Fort Street Mall, police said. He threw away his wig, pants and shirt in the restroom before running away.

Yesterday's bank robbery was the 37th in Hawaii this year and 11th this month. Six of the 11 robberies were committed in one day. William Sarcedo Jr., 31, has been charged in those Sept. 9 robberies.

Police seek help to nab suspect in bank heist

Police are asking for the public's help in locating the suspect in the 2:45 p.m. Wednesday robbery of the Kaimuki branch of American Savings Bank at 1139 12th Ave.

The holdup man fled on a light-colored mountain bike toward Koko Head Avenue.

He gave a teller a note demanding money and asked that it be placed in a black, purselike bag. The suspect appeared to be in his early to mid-30s, about 5 feet 8, 160-180 pounds, with a muscular build, tan complexion and black, wavy hair. He wore a black baseball cap with red logo, black long-sleeved button-down shirt, black jeans, dress shoes and black sunglasses.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Kailua man arrested in Kakaako bank job

A 24-year-old Kailua man was arrested last night in the Sept. 23 robbery of Kakaako American Savings Bank.

The man, of Kina Street, turned himself in at the Kailua police station at 10:40 p.m., police said. An initial court appearance in Federal Court was scheduled for today.

In other news

HILO -- Police reported seizing 1,033 marijuana plants yesterday and Wednesday during an eradication in West Hawaii.