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Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, February 18, 2000

UPDATE

Vote systems vie

By Suzanne Tswei, Star-Bulletin

Companies seeking to provide a new election system for the state are scheduled to show off their products tomorrow to election precinct workers.

But the selection process is closed to the public and the media, said Lloyd Unebasami, administrator of the state procurement office. Unebasami said he could not even say how many companies submitted bids for the contract.

The selection of a vendor for the new election system is expected early next month.

Chief elections officer Dwayne Yoshina said the state is seeking "basically the same" type of election system as one used in 1998.

"We are still looking at a mark-sense (optical scan) technology," Yoshina said.

Election Systems & Software, a Nebraska firm, supplied the system used in the state's primary and general elections in 1998 under a nonbid contract. Questions about the accuracy of the 1998 elections led to recount of all the ballots, but the recounts confirmed the original results.

Ex-trustees' request for jury trial denied

The attorney general's suit seeking penalties against the former trustees of the Bishop Estate will not be decided by a jury, a state judge ruled today.

Probate Judge Kevin Chang denied former trustee Henry Peters' request for a jury trial, saying the state's suit was filed as a probate court matter.

The trial is scheduled to begin during the week of Sept. 18.

The state is seeking surcharges against all five former trustees of the Bishop Estate -- Peters, Richard "Dickie" Wong, Oswald Stender, Gerard Jervis and Lokelani Lindsey -- for losses the trust, now known as the Kamehameha Schools, has allegedly suffered as a result of their decisions.

All five have resigned from the estate.

Peters' lawyer Renee Yuen said the state's action is similar to a civil suit for monetary damages and should go before a jury.

But Deputy Attorney General Hugh Jones said Peters and his fellow trustees agreed to let a probate judge decide the case during a Dec. 7 status conference.

Grants available for Hawaiian projects

Community projects that benefit native Hawaiians may qualify for grants.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which started its community development program in 1995, is encouraging nonprofit organizations, including public agencies, to apply.

Grant funds are available for projects that enhance the general welfare of native Hawaiians (individuals of 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood).

The program responds to a desire for increased self-determination and self-reliance expressed by native Hawaiians, Gov. Ben Cayetano said.

The commission expects to award perhaps eight to 10 grants. The average amount of past awards is $30,000.

Increased housing and economic opportunities may be given grant priority, along with development projects on Molokai.

The application deadline is March 31.

Applications and information are available at any Department of Hawaiian Home Lands office on the neighbor islands or the department planning office at 1099 Alakea St., Suite 2000, Honolulu. For more information, call Christine Valles, 587-6424.

HPD to have roadblocks over holiday weekend

Checkpoints go up this three-day Presidents Day weekend for drivers who may be impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Honolulu police will man the roadblocks at unannounced times and places from today through Tuesday.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Police suspect couple in mom-pop robberies

Police suspect that a homeless couple, charged with last Friday's armed robbery of a Kylen's Superette in Pacific Heights, have been targeting mom-and-pop stores for several months.

John Pawai, 39, is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail for first- degree robbery and drug-related offenses. Bail for his 30-year-old wife, Roxanne, who allegedly drove the getaway car, is $10,000.

A tip led police to Sheridan Park, where the Pawais were arrested without incident at 6:30 p.m. a week ago today. They were charged the following day.

"We believe the Pawais have been very active for several months," said Det. Madeline Morikawa. "We suspect they're responsible for over 10 cases."

Det. Henry Nobriga says the Pawais robbed to support a crystal methamphetamine habit. "We're not talking big bucks," Nobriga said.

"The small stores don't have much. What they got was enough to purchase user amounts."

The Pawais are also suspects in the holdup of Rainbow Country Liquor in Kaimuki, which was robbed last Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Police also arrested a 30-year-old woman on Tuesday for first-degree robbery in connection with the Pawai investigation. The woman has not yet been charged.

Isle boy's email threat may have hit 6 states

As many as six mainland high schools named Harrison may have received email threats earlier this month from a 14-year-old Pearl City boy arrested here earlier this week, says a Harrison, N.J., police sergeant.

New Jersey's Harrison High School, which has an enrollment of about 900 students from grades 9-12, received email threats on Jan. 31 and Feb. 10, added Sgt. John Osterkorn. Honolulu police arrested the boy on Tuesday and seized his computer in connection with those threats.

The first threatened bombings and shootings, the second threat referred only to bombings. Both were received in the evening, so police were able to check the school overnight without evacuating students.

Osterkorn said he was been contacted by officials from schools named Harrison in New York, Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee and West Virginia that received alleged email threats.

"I haven't heard anything from our prosecutors," Osterkorn said when asked if New Jersey plans to prosecute the juvenile suspect.

Homeless man arrested in Makua Cave robbery

Police arrested a 29-year-old homeless man yesterday after he allegedly robbed a visitor from Korea at Makua Cave.

The victim, 43, told police the man showed him a large knife and demanded money while he was inside the cave at about 4:30 p.m.

Second man questioned in crystal meth case

Police have arrested and interviewed a second man in connection with an investigation into the alleged smuggling of a record amount of crystal methamphetamine to Lanai.

The man was released after being questioned by police Wednesday night.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled on March 21 for 37-year-old Elpidio Etrata, who was arrested Saturday at the Lanai airport after he got off a flight from Oahu. He allegedly brought 23 grams of crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated $23,000 and 1.5 grams of marijuana to the island.