Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, December 10, 1999

Millennium Moments

She gave the beach
to keep people away

For the token price of $1, the city in the 1920s received five acres of Kaaawa beachland plus a narrow strip of beach a mile down -- known today as Swanzy Beach Park and Kaaawa Beach Park, respectively.

The deal was struck between Julie Judd Swanzy, heiress of Kaaawa and Kualoa lands from her father Dr. Gerrit P. Judd, and then-Mayor John H. Wilson, according to "The Beaches of O'ahu" by John R.K. Clark.

Swanzy, fearing city proposals for a public beach park near her private country home in Kualoa, offered to Wilson the five acres of Kaaawa beachland if the Kualoa park plans were dropped. Wilson agreed, but on condition that Swanzy also gift the beach strip a mile down, as well as another acre inland for an elementary school, Clark says.

In 1950, the five-acre site -- Kaaawa-nui Park -- was renamed Julie Judd Swanzy Beach Park; the strip south -- Kaaawa-iki Park -- was renamed Kaaawa Beach Park.

Maui inmate found dead
in apparent suicide

WAILUKU -- Authorities are investigating an apparent suicide at the Maui Community Correctional Center -- apparently the second suicide at the facility this year.

The body of 26-year-old Sean Kekona was found hanging from a bed sheet in a shower area at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"We handling it as a suicide," said Herman Moore, the state prisons' chief investigator for internal affairs.

Moore said his office and Maui police were investigating the incident to determine if it was a suicide and if there was any dereliction of duty.

Kekona, serving time for second-degree robbery, is the adopted brother of convicted double-murderer Anthony Kekona, who is also imprisoned at the correctional center.

Dale Wester, 34, of Portland, Ore., was found hanging from a bed sheet in his cell on Jan. 25.

Honolulu man charged with Internet fraud

A federal grand jury indicted a Honolulu man for wire fraud, trademark violations and selling Viagra over the Internet without a prescription.

Kent Aoki Lee, 37, was charged yesterday with copying the authorized Web site of the Honolulu Marathon Association -- which organizes the annual race that will be run Sunday -- and creating his own site using the registered trademarks of the association.

Lee allegedly claimed his site was the official Honolulu Marathon site, providing race information and history and allowing U.S. residents to register for the race on-line.

He also allegedly charged runners from Japan a $165 registration fee -- $100 more than the actual fee. He also offered runners a course tour, transportation and a pre-race meal.

Fourteen people from Japan allegedly responded to Lee's Web site by sending e-mails. Federal officials have taken it off-line.

Lee also was charged with maintaining another Web site where he allegedly sold the sexual impotence drug Viagra without a prescription.

Palolo sewer spillage enters Waiamao Stream

A 12-inch sewer line clogged by roots, rags and grease caused about 5,500 gallons of sewage to back up yesterday and come out of a Palolo Valley manhole, the city said.

The incident between 3537 Makanui Place and 2374 10th Avenue was reported at 12:20 p.m. Wastewater personnel responded at 1 p.m. and stopped the spill four hours later, according to the city. Spillage entered Waiamao Stream, which leads to Palolo Stream and then the Ala Wai Canal.

The city said warning signs have been posted.

USS carrier will award diplomas at Pearl

A graduation ceremony will be held for the first time tomorrow on board the carrier USS Constellation during its port call at Pearl Harbor.

One bachelor's degree, 39 associate's degrees, 56 certificates of achievement and 36 General Educational Development (GED) certificates -- the equivalent of a high school diploma -- will be awarded to sailors in Honolulu, the last stop for the San Diego-based ship.

A Navy program places university professors aboard ships at sea. Hundreds of sailors took accredited courses during the six-month deployment.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Three men, woman face kidnap/robbery charges

Police arrested suspects for two separate kidnapping/armed robbery cases yesterday, including a pair who attempting to flee from a Waipio residence with two safes.

Two men, ages 38 and 30, were apprehended outside a house at 94-1131 Nanilihilihi St. by officers responding to a 9:35 p.m. call from a man who lives at that address.

The man, 29, told police he and two friends were confronted by the two suspects -- one of whom was armed with a revolver -- shortly after arriving home. The man was able to flee and called police from a neighbor's home. The man's companions were found tied up in the closet.

Meanwhile, first-degree robbery and kidnapping charges are pending against a 22-year-old man and woman, 28, who were arrested at their Alapa Place residence in Kahuku last night.

The man allegedly kidnapped a 22-year-old woman from her Kapuai Place home in Sunset Beach at about 6 p.m. in an attempt to locate a man she is acquainted with.

The woman told police her abductor loaded a shotgun and allegedly threatened to kill her acquaintance.

The suspect and his accomplice then allegedly tried to rob the woman of a gold bracelet on Kekauoha Street at about 7:45 p.m. The suspects fled after passers-by intervened.

Attempted murder charge pending against officer

Internal Affairs is investigating a domestic abuse incident involving a 38-year-old Honolulu police officer assigned to the Leeward patrol district.

The officer surrendered to police at the Wahiawa station yesterday morning. He allegedly drove a car at his girlfriend, pinning her and an infant child she was holding against another vehicle.

The reported incident occurred at the couple's Mililani residence on Keaoopua Street at about 9 p.m. Wednesday night.

Attempted murder and reckless endangering charges are pending.

Girl, 11, alleges sex abuse by Waianae man

Police are investigating a sex abuse complaint by an 11-year-old Waianae girl who alleges she was assaulted repeatedly over a two-year period.

Police arrested a 35-year-old Waianae man for questioning yesterday.

Kauai man, 48, drowns off island's west end

POLIHALE, Kauai -- A 48-year-old man drowned yesterday afternoon while swimming in what firefighters described as "very rough waters" at Polihale State Park on the west end of Kauai.

The Kauai Fire Department said the man was swimming with friends who pulled him ashore after seeing he was in distress. Fire crews were unable to revive him.

Fire officials said the victim had a Lihue post office box and lived on a boat in Nawiliwili Harbor.