Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, November 26, 1999

Millennium Moments

'Honolulu Brewery
-- Genuine Beer'

SOME 40 years after Don Francisco de Paula Marin noted in his diary the making of "a barrel of beer" in February 1812, Hawaii's first full-scale brewery frothed to the surface in 1854.

From April to October, The Polynesian publication ran a weekly ad titled "Honolulu Brewery - Genuine Beer," according to Robert C. Schmitt in "Firsts and Almost Firsts in Hawaii."

On Oct. 28, the ad by J.J. Bischoff & Co. was retitled "Honolulu Brewery Malt Beer," with references to the beer's non- alcoholic content deleted.

Later breweries included the Honolulu Brewing and Malting Co., makers of Primo Beer, which started production in February 1901 until prohibition came.

Renamed Hawaii Brewing Co., it resumed making Primo in 1934 until closing in 1979.

For beer fans, a tidbit from Schmitt: In October 1958, Primo was the first U.S. beer marketed in aluminum cans; the 11-ounce "Shiny Steiny," however, wasn't popular and was withdrawn.

Less fortunate
need community's help

At this time of year, it is traditional to ask members of the community to look into their hearts and pocketbooks to help those who are leading lives of quiet desperation. The Star-Bulletin's Good Neighbor Fund offers a way to make a difference.

---

Monetary gifts may be sent to the Good Neighbor Fund, c/o Honolulu Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, HI 96802, or dropped off at any of First Hawaiian Bank's 56 branches.

Clothing, household items and other gifts can be dropped off at the Community Clearinghouse, 914 Kapalama Military Reservation.

You also may participate in the Adopt-A-Family program, in which businesses, employee groups, social clubs, families or individuals can pick a specific family to help.

For more information, call 847-1362.

Army won't seek death penalty in slaying case

The Army will not seek the death penalty for a 25th Infantry Division staff sergeant accused of beating and stabbing his wife to death in their Helemano home.

Staff Sgt. Timothy Ward, a member of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, now faces life imprisonment if he is convicted of killing his pregnant wife, Bianca. No date for the general court-martial has been set.

Bianca Ward was killed during an argument Aug. 26 shortly after winning custody of her 2-year-old son, Damian.

Timothy Ward, 33, is being held at the Ford Island brig.

McDonnell is HMA's 'Physician of the Year'

Dr. John T. McDonnell has been named "Physician of the Year" by the Hawaii Medical Association in recognition of outstanding volunteer work.

McDonnell, in private practice in Kaneohe, was cited for his work as chairman of the HMA's Task Force on Tobacco, and for more than 20 years of volunteer work with the American Lung Association's family asthma program.

He had a major role in a battle to reserve 25 percent of Hawaii's share of the national tobacco settlement for health-care and tobacco-prevention education. The effort will focus on trying to discourage young people from experimenting with tobacco products.

Tree-lighting ceremony to honor departed pets

A tree-lighting ceremony as a memorial to pets that have died will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. next Thursday at the Hawaiian Humane Society, 2700 Waialae Ave.

Kahu Kordell Kekoa of Kawaiahao Church and Kamehameha Schools will lead the observance. Participants are invited to personalize an ornament with a departed pet's name and, if they like, a photo.

The ornament may be hung on the memorial tree or taken home. A donation of $5 per ornament is requested.

For information, call 946-2187, extension 217.

Two at Hickam chosen for brigadier general

Col. Steven J. Redmann, commander of the 15th Air Base Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, has been nominated for his first star as brigadier general.

Also selected as a brigadier general at Hickam was Col. John Catton of the inspector general's office, at headquarters Pacific Air Force.

Tree sales to benefit mental health group

The Mental Health Association is taking preorders for Christmas trees and wreaths, and they can be picked up or purchased on the spot next month.

Prices for the sheared Douglas firs range from $19 for a 2-foot tree and up to $60 for an 8-foot tree. Wreaths cost $26 each.

You can pick up orders or buy trees from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Central Intermediate School parking lot or 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 1-19 at the Pearl City Elementary School parking lot.

To preorder call Tobias Christmas Trees at 228-1002 and say your order is to benefit the Mental Health Association in Hawaii, which supports improved services to the state's children and adults recovering from mental illnesses.

Yasmin the giraffe needs name for baby

The Honolulu Zoo needs help naming its newest addition, a baby giraffe born Sept. 17.

Zoo keepers have helped his inexperienced mother, Yasmin, with daily feedings of condensed and whole milk from a giant bottle.

The baby giraffe was 5 to 6 feet tall at birth and now stands 6 feet.

To enter, send your name, address, phone number and the baby giraffe's name on a 3-inch by 5-inch index card to Baby Giraffe, Meadow Gold Dairies, P.O. Box 1880, Honolulu, HI 96805.

Entry deadline is Nov. 30. The winner will be notified by mail or phone and will receive prizes from Meadow Gold and the Honolulu Zoological Society.

Piano studio students to perform 'Nutcracker'

Hawaii Public Radio will present students of the Ernest Chang Piano Studio in a two-piano performance of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" at Washington Place.

The performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 will be narrated by Michael Titterton, Hawaii Public Radio president and general manager. The Dec. 5 performance at 4 p.m. will be narrated by first lady Vicky Cayetano.

The students also will be performing other holiday music. Call 955-8821 for information.

Hawaii to get $24 million for marine conservation

A $24.48 million appropriation for marine conservation highlights Hawaii's share of funds in an omnibus bill passed by Congress and now awaits the president's signature, Sen. Daniel Inouye said.

Another important element is $12.5 million in Department of Commerce funds for the East-West Center.

"The funding will enable the East-West Center to maintain its core infrastructure and overhead and still serve the United States' long-term interests by promoting understanding and relationships between and among the peoples of the United States, Asia and the Pacific Rim," Inouye said.

"For nearly four decades, the East-West Center has played a pivotal role in this most important region of the world."

Hawaii's $37 million total in the fiscal 2000 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes funds for ocean resources and marine research initiatives such as tsunami mitigation, coral reef preservation, monk seal protection, fisheries enhancement, ornamental fish aquaculture and marine law enforcement.

Deep-monitor wells under construction

The state Commission on Water Resource Management has started digging four new deep-monitor wells which will help water managers understand the limits and conditions of various aquifer systems across the state.

Construction of two wells have begun in Kahaluu and Kalaoa in North Kona on the Big Island. A third will begin next month in Halawa. The fourth will begin in February 2000 in Lahaina.

The projects total $1.28 million. Commission chairman Tim Johns said the four wells are needed for the state groundwater monitoring program. The program provides crucial information on how an aquifer system responds to changes in climate, rainfall, the amount of water pumped from wells and land use changes, such as agriculture or housing development.

Deep-monitor wells are drilled completely through the freshwater layer of an aquifer and into the underlying seawater. Hydrologists use the data to estimate the amount of groundwater which may be available for use.

Breakfast fund-raiser to fight child abuse

Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii is holding its annual "Breakfast with Santa" benefit Dec. 4 at the Manoa Grand Ballroom of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.

Tickets are $15 per person and includes the meal, photo with Santa and a Christmas goody bag.

Clowns, face painters, magicians and costumed cartoon characters will be there to entertain children. Imua, Opihi Pickers, Ben Vegas, A Class Act, House of E Hula Halau and the cast of "Baywatch Hawaii" will be on hand to entertain the adults.

For information, call 591-3550.

---

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Police investigating sex assault report

Police today were investigating the apparent sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl.

The girl told her mother she was sexually assaulted by a man at an Ala Wai Boulevard apartment early Thanksgiving morning, police said. They said the mother left the girl in the man's care earlier.

Sprinklers fight fire at bakery on Maui

WAILUKU -- An unattended stove led to a fire that caused $2,000 in damages to Kasey's Bakehouse Maui in Kihei.

Assistant Fire Chief Donald Moniz said the fire, extinguished 29 minutes after an alarm at 3:11 p.m. yesterday, was substantially put out by an emergency sprinkler system.

Coast Guard helps stalled vessel at sea

A stalled vessel near the Big Island received Coast Guard help to get under way again yesterday.

The Coast Guard got a call from the 19-foot vessel at 7:24 a.m. Those on board thought they were about 40 miles north of the Big Island when they actually were 10 miles east of the Big Island, according to the Coast Guard.

They were spotted by a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft from Barbers Point, and a Coast Guard patrol boat later rendezvoused with the vessel, which had lost most of its fuel.

The Coast Guard helped repair a fuel line failure, and refueled the vessel. By then it was 17 miles east of the Big Island.

It was able to make it to Hilo under its own power, escorted by the Coast Guard.