Millennium Moments
WHEN it was built in 1928, Iao Theater in Wailuku was considered a state-of-the-art facility. Venerable playhouse
Unlike the wooden-frame, fire-hazard buildings that surrounded it at the time, the theater was built of reinforced concrete for safety, according to "Maui in History, A Guide to Resources."
"Iao" literally means "cloud supreme," and the theater, as fine as any other of the day in Honolulu or the mainland, was so named as the result of a communitywide contest.
The grand prize: $25.
Maui County recently spent $1.5 million to buy and repair the Market Street facility.
Today, Iao Theater houses the Maui Community Theater, and efforts are ongoing to provide adequate seating and to restore the structure's interior.
Fishery meetings open Monday
Shark management and other marine topics will highlight a meeting of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council beginning Monday in the Lanai Ballroom at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel.The public is invited to provide comment. Sessions run through Thursday; all start at 8:30 a.m.
The meetings also will cover such topics as bottom fish, coral, marine debris and administrative matters. For more information, call 522-8220.
Cruise line gets partial liquor license renewal
Dream Cruises, which lost its liquor license Aug. 23 for selling alcohol to minors, has won a partial license restoration from the Honolulu Liquor Commission.One of its two Kewalo Basin cruise vessels may serve alcohol during a six-month probationary period, while the other will remain alcohol-free for now.
The commission approved the arrangement yesterday with a strong admonishment that the company must demonstrate good behavior during the six months to earn further license restoration.
Package tours for late-evening dance cruises will be terminated, and off-duty police officers will make ID checks to keep minors alcohol-free for remaining tours, said Dream Cruises lawyer Hiram Kamaka.
"We think there has been a degree of insensitivity on the part of our staff," Kamaka said, adding that corrective action has been taken.
The American Dream's license was revoked after commissioners heard testimony about people under 21 drinking aboard ship.
HPU enrollment hits record for 27th year
Hawaii Pacific University enrolled a record 8,592 students this fall, a gain of 1.03 percent overall from last year, marking 27 years of consecutive growth."Despite continued economic recession in Asia and Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University met its enrollment goals," said Chatt Wright, HPU president.
The number of students from Asia continued to slide, although not as much as last year.
"International student enrollment remained healthy due to increases in students from Europe and South America," Wright said. Another distinction is that HPU was rated No. 1 in the nation for having the largest number of foreign student business degree recipients at the undergraduate level.
"Meanwhile, enrollment in Hawaii stayed even with almost every public and private high school in the state represented, and the number of students from the mainland U.S. increased slightly," Wright said.
Preliminary figures show the student population continues to be about one-third from Hawaii, a third from the rest of the United States and a third from countries around the world, Wright said.
"This fall, students from more than 95 foreign countries are in our student body."
This diversity is important to the school, Wright added.
Free police fair gives chance to talk, learn
Food, music and cops will be available tomorrow at the Honolulu Police Department's Community Fair.The public is invited to take a look at how the department operates and talk with police officers, investigators and the chief.
See how a laser speed gun operates or test out the Breathalyzer.
Visit the HPD museum and learn about the department's most famous detective, Chang Apana, the real Charlie Chan.
The free fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at HPD's Beretania Street headquarters.
H-1 ramp lanes to be closed tomorrow a.m.
The right lane of the Halona Street on-ramp to Ewa-bound H-1 freeway lanes will be closed for work tomorrow.The right lane of the Houghtailing offramp from Ewa-bound lanes also will be closed. Crews will be at work from 7:30 a.m. to noon at both locations.
Motorists are advised to use extra caution and allow for extra travel time.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Lahaina man dies when car is struck by a truck
WAILUKU -- A 29-year-old Lahaina man became the 12th traffic fatality of the year on Maui after the car he was driving was struck broadside by a dump truck.The car was south of Launiupoko State Park when it tried to make a U-turn toward Lahaina on Honoapiilani Highway and was struck by the truck at about 2:31 p.m. yesterday, Police Lt. Charles Hirata said.
Hirata said speed was not a factor in the accident.
There were 11 traffic fatalities on Maui at this time last year.
Anonymous tip leads police to escaped youth
A 16-year-old boy who escaped from the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility this month was apprehended Wednesday in Waimanalo.The boy escaped Oct. 6 by climbing over a 30-foot wall, police said. He was found after the police Windward Crime Reduction Unit received an anonymous tip about his whereabouts.
Police considered the boy dangerous.
Man allegedly threatened to kill former girlfriend
Police charged a Kalihi man yesterday for allegedly threatening to kill or injure his former girlfriend several times this year.John Nahoopii, 32, was charged with two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and kidnapping, police said. He is being held on $50,000 bail.
Navy man charged with molesting 4-year-old girl
A 26-year-old Navy man has been charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a federal offense since the alleged incident occurred on military property.Zurcaled De La Cruz is accused of twice sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl between August and October.
FBI agents arrested De La Cruz without incident at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service office at Pearl Harbor.
