Millennium Moments
BEFORE the supermarket chains, there were the independent supermarkets. Before the supermarkets, there were the grocery stores. And Hawaii's first grocery store? It was started in the summer of 1855 by Samuel Savidge and Henry May, says Robert C. Schmitt, in "Firsts and Almost Firsts in Hawaii." Market expansion
Originally on King Street near the Seaman's Bethel, the store moved to Fort Street, then to Beretania at Pensacola. It was called H. May & Company, then May's Market, before it closed in January 1956, Schmitt says.
The first Hawaii store to be called a "supermarket" was Kaimuki Super-Market, which opened at Waialae and Koko Head avenues in September 1938. And the first modern supermarket, according to Schmitt, likely was the Manoa-Woodlawn Super Market, whose March 1946 plans included a market and drugstore, service station and parking for 75 vehicles.
On its heels came the Kapiolani Super Market at 1015 Kapiolani Blvd., whose October 1947 opening heralded its self-service, central checkout system and 16,000 square feet of parking.
City Hall Christmas tree picked
By Harold Morse
Star-BulletinIt was Christmas tree harvest time today as the city took its pick for the showpiece at City Hall for its 15th annual Honolulu City Lights celebration.
The donated 50-foot Norfolk pine was at the home of Hector and Teresita Montes of 7513 Kekaa St. in Hawaii Kai's Kalama Valley.
Plans are to install it at City Hall at 10 a.m. Friday to be in place when the Christmas lights go on Dec. 4.
Teresita Montes described the gift she and her husband, Hector, gave as no big thing.
"We just want to share it and give it to the city," she said. "It's so pretty and so tall. Everybody can enjoy it."
She called the city and offered the tree last July or August, she said. It was unknown for a while whether it would be selected for the place of honor at City Hall.
"They just called me Monday," she said. "They called back ... to tell me that they chose my tree."
She didn't know who planted it. "We are the second owner," she said of their home. They've lived there since 1984, and the tree was already growing then, she said.
"It's a good feeling that they chose our tree to share with everybody. It is a beautiful tree."
Kaua's fate up to jury in murder attempt trial
A Circuit Court jury was to begin deliberating today in the attempted-murder trial of Wayman Kaua, charged with trying to kill three police officers during an October 1998 standoff in Pearl City.Kaua, 31, didn't want to go back to prison for violating parole and was willing to do anything to prevent it, said city prosecutor Peter Carlisle. "That man was willing to kill himself and others to keep him from going back to prison."
The defense contended Kaua was depressed about not being able to find a job and support his family and wanted to kill himself. He did not intend to kill anyone or take others with him, said deputy public defender Todd Eddins. "He couldn't take a wife's husband, the life of a child's father. He's not a stone-cold killer."
If convicted of attempting to murder the police officers, Kaua faces life in prison without parole.
The nearly 24-hour standoff paralyzed residents in Pacific Palisades who were unable to leave or enter their homes because Komo Mai Drive was shut down.
Army demotes general for adulterous affairs
A former commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield has lost his two stars and will be retired as a colonel after the Army found he had improper sexual relationships with the wives of two subordinate officers.The Army also said Maj. Gen. John J. Maher III -- who commanded the 25th Division from June 8, 1995, to June 19, 1997 -- also attempted to have an improper relationship with a female enlisted soldier.
The Army said the incidents occurred from 1991 to 1998.
Maher was removed this year as vice director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, after the accusations surfaced.
Physician fined for ducking taxes
A state judge has fined a Honolulu physician $30,000 for failing to file his general excise tax returns in 1995 and 1996.Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall also ordered Dr. Albert Honda to complete 80 hours of community service and file all delinquent tax returns. State Tax Director Ray Kamikawa said Honda, an anesthesiologist, had a gross income from his medical practice of more than $300,000 in 1995 and 1996.
Deputy Attorney General Rick Damerville noted Honda earned his medical degree from the University of Hawaii and that his education was supported in part by state taxes.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Man hit by gunfire
By Jaymes K. Song
in Waikiki
Star-BulletinPolice are investigating an apparent drive-by shooting this morning in Waikiki.
A group of men was standing on the corner of Seaside and Kuhio avenues at 4:53 a.m. when a car passed and someone inside fired at least three shots, police said.
A 27-year-old man admitted himself shortly after at Straub Hospital with a gunshot wound, said Detective Jack Snyder.
According to hospital officials, he remains in stable condition this morning.
The suspect vehicle is described as a newer model white Chevrolet two-door sedan. No suspects were arrested.
Witnesses said they heard a series of pops -- about four or five -- and then saw a car speed away.
Police cordoned off a small portion of the lawn and sidewalk near the Royal Kuhio Hotel and looked for shell casings on the street.
Police would not speculate on what the motive for the shootings was.
The other men with the victim were questioned and released.
Pearlridge man allegedly beats neighbor with guitar
A Pearlridge man was arrested for allegedly beating his neighbor with a guitar because he didn't like the smells coming from the victim's kitchen, police said.A detective said the suspect reached over a small fence and struck his neighbor with a guitar at a Kaluamoi Drive home at 5:15 yesterday.
Visitor drowns off remote Kauai North Shore beach
HANAKAPIAI BEACH, Kauai --A woman drowned and two other swimmers were pulled from the water by a Kauai Fire Department rescue helicopter yesterday.Fire officials identified the woman only as a tourist in her 50s. They said she was swimming with a companion when both were pulled out to sea. A passer-by attempted to save them and was also caught in the current.
