Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, November 8, 1999

Millennium Moments

Isles a theater center

There was a time, from the latter part of last century into early this century, when Honolulu was well known as the show town of the Pacific.

Drama and theater had always been an integral part of Hawaiian culture over the centuries, but the steady arrival of foreigners in the 19th century brought further refinement and diversity in the arts.

Thespians came from Australia, England and the United States, helping to spur improved acting and audience appreciation, say Carl Myatt and Deborah Uchida in "Hawaii the Electric Century."

Then, in 1879 the Opera House was built at the corner of King and Mililani streets -- a $40,000 theater with seating for 800 but room for 290 more. Destroyed by fire in 1895, it was rebuilt a year later with grandeur, funded by W.G. Irwin, president of Hawaiian Electric Co., and J.D. and A.B. Spreckels of San Francisco.

In 1917, however, the Opera House was demolished, and with it an era in isle theater ended.

Today, the site downtown is occupied by the U.S. Post Office, Customs House and Court House.

Taking Notice

Photo by Domi Calpito, Special to the Star-Bulletin
The Sampaguita Association of Hawaii donated
$1,000 to the Filipino Community Center at its 5th anniversary
ball. Members include, seated from left, Bert dela Cruz , Derico
Almogela, Romeo Quemado, and Al Ricalde, and standing,
Marilyn Villar, Florence Luzano, Domie Tesoro, Francisca
Tengasantos, Fely Unico, president of SAH, Roland Casamina,
FILCOM president, Lerma MaLacas, Pat Nabarrete, Mirriam
Quemado, Aurora Alejandro and Flora Corpuz.

Scholastic honors

Hong Thuy Nguyen of Kaimuki High School and Chi-Hwa Lee of Kalani High have been awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Market City Foundation.

Top winners in the 50th Intel International Science and Engineering Fair are Kapua Medeiros of Kamehameha Schools; Allan Carmichael, Erin Hanada, Casey Ogata, Sheri Oshiro, Kapaa High; Lizhou "Lisa" Wang, Rajsree Borthakur, Iolani; Elisa Nishimoto, St. Joseph High; Walter Coronel, Christopher Ross, Hawaii Preparatory Academy.

Also representing Hawaii were Heather Winget, Kahuku High; Kristina Dies, Jaclyn Lindo, St. Andrews Priory; Aaron Nakamura, Kapaa; Margie Ramos, Jeannette Chan, Alexander Failano, Richard Catungal, Campbell.

Barbara Burke, instructor of mathematics at Hawaii Pacific University, was awarded the 1999 Trustees' Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Joseph LeBlanc, a Moanalua High School graduate, has received the $50,000 Dr. Sidney and Irene Shipman Scholarship and a scholarship from the University of Michigan School of Music worth $12,200 per academic year.

Marcia Rei Sistoso, a recent graduate of Waialua High School, received the $1,000 President's Student Service Challenge Award for outstanding service to the community. She is attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Parked plane damaged, possibly by gunshots

The front windshield and side panel of a Hawaiian Air plane parked in the maintenance area at Honolulu Airport was damaged today, possibly by gunshots, police said.

Honolulu Airport Manager Stanford Miyamoto said the plane was parked in Spot No. 94 near Elliot Street. The incident was reported to police, he added.

A Hawaiian Air spokesman was unaware of any incident when contacted today.

There were no injuries and police said no one witnessed the incident, which reportedly occurred this morning between 3 and 4 o'clock.

The case has been classified as second-degree criminal property damage.

Police, military investigate injuries to 10-month-old boy

Police and military investigators are looking into injuries sustained by a 10-month-old boy, whose 30-year-old father is stationed at Schofield Barracks.

On Thursday, a day-care provider urged the father to seek medical attention for his son after noticing redness to the child's rectum and scrotum.

The child was taken to Tripler Hospital where doctors discovered second-degree burns. Police were notified when doctors also found that the child had multiple fractures to his legs and wrists.

Military man, 23, killed in motorcycle accident

A 23-year-old military man was killed last night in a motorcycle crash on the Honolulu-bound H-3 on-ramp adjacent to Likelike Highway in Kaneohe.

The crash was reported at 10:04 p.m. and involved no other vehicles. The motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is Oahu's 39th traffic fatality of the year.

Meanwhile, a 52-year-old man, who was struck by a car Thursday on Oneawa Street in Kailua, remains in critical condition in Queen's Hospital.

Man with baseball bat facing assault charges

Second-degree assault charges are pending against a 47-year-old man, who allegedly struck another man on the head with a baseball bat yesterday during a fight at the entrance to Sand Island Park following a traffic-related argument.

Police were called at 9:45 a.m. The injured man, 36, was treated at Queen's Hospital and released, police said.

Big Island man charged with heroin possession

HILO -- Arraignment was expected today for Marco Aguilar-Ramirez, 23, a Paradise Park resident charged with possession of 5 ounces of black tar heroin, police said.

Aguilar-Ramirez was charged Saturday with two counts of promoting a dangerous drug and one count of drug paraphernalia after being arrested Friday at a home in Paradise Park. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Also arrested in the raid Friday were a Paradise Park woman, 28, an Opihikao woman, 34, and a Waawaa man, 25. They were released pending further investigation.

Molokai man rescued after trying to save his dog

WAILUKU -- A 25-year-old Molokai man on a walk with his wife tried to save his dog in 6-to-8-foot surf, then needed saving himself.

Assistant Fire Chief Donald Moniz said a rescue team of three men on surfboards took about 45 minutes to help the man get to shore at Kaluakoi in west Molokai.

"The dog swam in okay but he couldn't," Moniz said.

Moniz said the incident took place at about 11 a.m. yesterday and fire rescue officials helped the man out of the ocean by 12:30 p.m.