Elizabeth Ashley, Windward Community College professor and librarian, "In this new millennium and new year, I think a return to spirituality is called for, a turn away from materialism. Life is becoming too complex. Technology was supposed to simplify our life, but instead has made it more complex. Now, on top of everything else we have to do, we have to check our e-mail and we have to respond. I need to take time to reflect, to get in touch with what's important and spiritually satisfying. It could be as simple as taking the time to just watch the birds walk across the front yard. That's my new millennium resolution." 2000: Notes from
all over townRichard Port, retired educator and former state Democratic Party chairman, welcomed the new year at home with his wife, Ann.
"It's a reflective time, almost a religious experience. We need to take time to look back and look forward."
Resolution for the year 2000: "My hope is that on January 1, 2001, we will still have two statewide daily newspapers being published." (Port is a member of the citizens group, Save Our Star-Bulletin.)
Looking farther ahead, Port said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if, in 100 years, we had a world at peace? When I was young, I don't think I totally understood the importance of those words. I'm not only talking about peace between nations, but peace within families, between neighbors. What would it be like if we were not at one another's throats?"
Sarah Emerson, manager and co-owner of Kailua's Paint-it Pottery, said she expected the arrival of Y2K to bring chaos, and didn't think she'll be disappointed. "It's going to be crazy, one loud explosion." But Emerson, who received her college degree and launched a new business in 1999, hoped the years ahead "will bring more acceptance and openness towards others, and growth back towards our communities and families."
Ruth Lucas, of Kaaawa, said she was spending the evening helping her animals cope with the fireworks. "I'll have to bring the dogs in the house, but our two geese -- which make the best watchdogs -- don't seem bothered by the noise at all."
Marty McClain, owner of McClain Auctions: "I do have a New Year resolution: Take a vacation, the first one in years."
"I'm hoping, like a lot of us, that this year will bring Hawaii's economy back to life. And I hope politicians will learn from the UH football team that a good leader can and should lead."
Gaye Chan, professor of art at the University of Hawaii-Manoa: "Starting from the time I was about 5 to the time I was about 19 or so, I had a New Year's resolution that I would stop being a homosexual. ... Then I gave up New Year's resolutions."
Kimo Huddleston, Hawaii's No. 1 polo player, ushered in the new year on horseback in New Zealand as the only American invited to take part in what was billed as the first international polo game of the new millennium.
The game -- NZ vs. Rest of the World -- was played in the small country town of Gisborne, on the east coast of North Island, which calls itself the first city to see the sun of the new millennium.
Huddleston's wife, Stephanie, said he received an invitation last month and boarded a flight earlier this week.
"Kimo was the only American invited to join a large group from Canada, Argentina, Australia and elsewhere," she said.
Yesterday afternoon Stephanie waited in Honolulu for word on the outcome of the match, already under way; New Zealand had entered the new year hours earlier.
Lenny Klompus, chief executive officer, Bowl Games Hawaii, said his resolution is to "try to spend a little more time with the family. There's more to life than business. I spend 12 months a year working on the Aloha Bowl and the Hula Bowl, but there's more to life than that. I really need to get back to basics and try to enjoy life a little bit more."
He thinks the economy will get better. "But I hope in November of 2000 and 2002 we'll elect politicians that we can once again look up to. I think what happened with the president and people just writing it off is a travesty. I believe we'll see a woman president, and it might be good."
Technology growth has good and bad
Stephany Sofos, President, S.L. Sofos & Co., said her resolution is to "lose weight. Just keep healthy and work on my girlish figure."Health is the most important thing. It's more important than money and love. If you have good health, you can find it all."
She predicted that "everything we know today will be different in the next 10 to 20 years. Technology is growing at a faster rate than anything else and it's causing a revolution in the way we do things. That's the good news. But the bad news is it's going to be a major strain on humanity trying to cope with it."
Economic upturn is in the making
Robert Fishman, chief executive officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority, said, "I think it's very important for me and my family to reassess our values for the short and longer term. When you get to a turning of age you start thinking where you want to be. I'm grateful for my health."He predicted that "Hawaii will enjoy a wonderful year. We're not only going to be the beneficiary of some economic momentum generated on the mainland, but also the strengthening of the economy in Japan. I'm looking for the year 2000 to be the beginning of an economic renaissance in Hawaii."
Hawaii will see 'a new attitude'
D.G. "Andy" Anderson, businessman, said his resolution is getting involved in politics. "I've kind of cooled down for the last five years, but after what I've seen happen and not happen and from what I've experienced personally, I think it might be time to get reinvolved."He predicted that "you're going to see a new attitude in Hawaii. I think you're going to find a new generation coming in and not accepting, totally, the old ways that haven't worked. I think our people as a whole want to join the rest of the country, which is booming. Hawaii is so behind the curve it's almost sad."
A wish for harmony for the world
Carol Ai, vice president of marketing, City Mill, said her resolution is "to be able to make a contribution of some kind to help bring more harmony to the world. I see it becoming more discordant all the time, which is troublesome."When asked for a prediction, she said, "People say we're coming out of a recession, but I see our economy in a holding pattern for a while. I'd very much like to see our government and private sector in better alignment."
New dawn in cards for zoo, chief says
Zoo director Kenneth Redman said the dawn of the new millennium has inspired him to refocus his energy."When you look at the turning of the calendar you say, OK, now let's really concentrate on making the zoo the best possible zoo we can have in Hawaii," Redman said. "It's time to tighten our belt, pull up our boot straps or whatever analogies you want to use.
"Let's really work hard. It's not as if we haven't in the past. We have. But the time has come for Honolulu to have a world-class zoo, and we're going to make it happen. That's the kind of feeling you get anytime you have a change of the calendar."
Entertainer pleases with nostalgic tunes
Waikiki entertainer Gaylord Rieta serenaded an audience during the Starlight MADDness event at Ala Moana Beach Park with songs such as "Waikiki" and "Pua Lilia."Older tourists and Canadians nostalgic for the past appreciate his style of singing more than modern-day Hawaii, he said.
"I'd like to bring back the old traditional way of singing," Rieta said. "The new arrangements are up tempo, but I rather have the old tradition."
'End of the world' just a kick for boys
Pockets of greasy-looking ground fog cling to suburban cul-de-sacs in Kailua, tendrils of smoke wafting out into the streets. There is the snap and rattle of firecrackers, the screech of whizbangs and pinwheels, the whump of aerial rockets. Hissing sparks fall like rain.Suddenly a herd of teenage boys on skateboards and scooters dart through the dense smoke, weaving down the street. "It's the end of the world!" they're screaming. "Armageddon! Millennium meltdown! End of the world!" And just as suddenly, they're gone, their cries swallowed by the distant thunder of store-bought explosives.
It's 9 p.m. The End of the World is still on Rocky Mountain Time.
Huge portfolio gain gone in a flash
Imagine his surprise when Star-Bulletin Webmaster Blaine Fergerstrom checked his online Quicken portfolio of stocks and mutual funds at 6:30 last night to discover he had been granted a millennium gift.Quicken.com reported his meager portfolio had gained more than $908,000.
Two of Fergerstrom's mutual funds showed astronomical returns: Twentieth Century Ultra was reporting an increase in value of 4,488 percent, and Janus Growth and Income Fund an increase of 9,952 percent.
All totaled, the site was reporting an increase in value of $908,822.67 for his portfolio.
The site displayed a disclaimer: "We are currently experiencing problems with our mutual fund data from S&P. The values shown may be inaccurate. This is not a Y2K-related issue."
By 11 p.m., the site was reporting accurate numbers.
Hilo bands bow out for bigger bucks
HILO -- Della Yamashiro, wife of the Big Island mayor, Stephen Yamashiro, had hoped for a gala New Year's evening. She planned a $100-a-head, dress-up event at a local restaurant, complete with a band and dancing.The hitch was the band. All the bands had jacked up their prices and were booked anyway. A week ago she managed to find a group, but with just three musicians.
Finally she gave up. "It wasn't going as nicely as I wanted it," she said, "so I cancelled it."
The Big Island Substance Abuse Council found itself in the same situation. In the middle of the year, about a half-dozen bands had agreed to play for free at an alcohol-free New Year's event, a spokesman said.
One by one they bowed out as they realized they could make good money at paid performances on New Year's Eve. The alcohol-free event was cancelled.
Cayetano resolves to lose weight in '00
Perhaps the most common resolution of the New Year -- to "lose weight" -- extends to Hawaii's First Dieter, Gov. Ben Cayetano."When I started this job I weighed about 180," Cayetano said. Estimating his weight now at "around 200 pounds," he says he will be cutting back this year.
Cayetano and several cabinet members were early participants in Dr. Terry Shintani's Hawaii Diet. He reported losing more than 10 pounds, but like many of us, the weight crept back.
Now candy bars and ice cream, two favorites, are off the Washington Place menu, and the governor is lifting weights and working out on a treadmill.
High ahi prices don't faze aficionados
Pam Kane of Waialae stood in line for a half-hour yesterday at the Farmer's Market to purchase $100 of ahi at $18 a pound and $50 worth of poke for her New Year's celebration."I have $150 so far and still have more to go," she said. "I don't mind paying the price once a year. The price is good; I remember it when it was over $20 to $30 a pound."
Kane was purchasing for a New Year's Day feast for 100 "immediate" family members.
Ahi ran from $6.50 a pound to $19 a pound for toro ahi. One fish retailer said he expected to sell 8,000 pounds of fish by the end of the day.
Imu smoke prompts false fire alarms
Fire dispatchers fielded several calls from all over Oahu yesterday morning from people sighting smoke.However, when firefighters arrived they didn't find structure fires, dispatchers said. The smoke was coming from several imus roasting kalua pig for celebrations around the island.
Center receives generous grant
The East-West Center has been awarded $745,000 over two years for two of its best-known programs: the Jefferson Fellows Program for journalists and the New Generation Seminar for younger leaders.The money came from the Vermont-based Freeman Foundation, which awarded earlier grants of $785,000 for the seminar and $680,000 to infuse Asian elements into teaching at U.S. schools.
The independent foundation, established in 1978, focuses on natural resource conservation and international studies, with an emphasis on promoting the understanding of Asia.
Charles E. Morrison, president of the East-West Center, said the foundation is the center's single strongest supporter and he is pleased with the award.
"These are programs that have a meaningful impact on Asia-Pacific relations," Morrison said.
About 300 print and broadcast journalists from Asia, the Pacific islands and the United States have been awarded Jefferson Fellowships since 1967.
In the revised program, groups of journalists gather twice a year at the center, spending two weeks in seminars in Hawaii and the same amount of time traveling. Americans go to Asia, and Asians travel in the United States.
About 100 younger leaders, mostly from the political world, have attended the New Generation Seminar, founded by Morrison in 1988.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Heart attack may be cause of driver's death
KAILUA-KONA -- A Big Island man was found dead after his pickup truck ran into a private driveway off Alii Drive and hit a house yesterday, police said.The victim, Wayne Ako, 56, of Kailua-Kona, had a history of heart attacks, family members told police.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine if a heart attack figured in yesterday's case, police said.
Ako was alone in his truck when he ran off the road at a site in Kahaluu, North Kona, at about 10:44 a.m., police said.
The truck hit a sliding glass door, breaking it, but no one in the house was injured.
Because the accident took place on private property, it will not be counted as a traffic fatality, police said.
The total of Big Island traffic fatalities remained at 31 for 1999, compared to 44 in 1998.
Man, 67, arrested for firing gun into air
Police yesterday arrested a 67-year-old man who they say may have been celebrating New Year's by firing a gun into the air in Kalihi.Residents saw the man fire his AR-15 rifle at traffic lights and into the sky on Kopke Street, police said.
He was booked for first-degree reckless endangerment and possessing illegal bullet clips.
Boy, 15, allegedly stole 12-year-old's fireworks
A 15-year-old boy was arrested last night for allegedly punching and taking fireworks from a 12-year-old boy in Waimalu.The teen-ager was booked for second-degree robbery.
Woman, 22, arrested in slash with sword
Police arrested a 22-year-old woman last night for reportedly slashing a 14-year-old girl with a samurai sword in Salt Lake.The woman was arrested for felony assault on Kohomua Street after a man reported she slashed the girl with the sword at 11 p.m., police said.
The girl was taken to Kaiser Hospital, where she was treated and released.
Asking for directions, man beaten unconscious
A 59-year-old man who was asking for directions downtown was beaten by a 24-year-old man this morning, police said.The suspect was standing at the corner of Nuuanu and Beretania streets when the older man asked him for directions at 2:30 a.m., police said. The man was beaten unconscious.
The suspect was arrested.
