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City to test Waikiki street to avoid remains
The city Board of Water Supply has agreed to do test borings on the remaining third of its Kalakaua Avenue water-line project before resuming construction, to avoid disturbing the remains of native Hawaiians.The process should be done in about two weeks, said chief engineer Cliff Jamile. He said he does not know if the delay will mean added costs for the $2.4 million project.
Earlier this week, Jamile halted work on the 16-inch line project after Mayor Jeremy Harris met with members of the Hawaiian community unhappy with the unearthing of 37 sets of bones since work began in November.
Jamile said the test borings will allow construction workers and an on-site archaeologist to see what material lies in the path of the project.
The presence of "consolidated sand" would imply the ground is made up of material predating the 20th century and would signal to workers a higher likelihood that remains, or iwi in Hawaiian, could be found, he said.
Extra care would then be taken in those areas, Jamile said.
Jamile agreed to the test borings after a two-hour closed-door meeting yesterday with government officials and representatives from several native Hawaiian groups.
Kehau Abad of the group Hui Malama I Na Kupuna o Hawaii Nei said she backs the plan, but noted "these are the kinds of things they should have had to begin with."
The city is expected to run a newspaper advertisement soon seeking the identities of Hawaiian families whose descendants may have lived, and possibly been buried, in the area surrounding the project.
Officials also have agreed to review and make improvements to the city's overall policy on how it handles the disruption of remains during construction.
Bison ranch files suit against Big Isle buyer
LIHUE -- Hanalei Garden Farms, a bison ranch on Kauai's North Shore, has filed a lawsuit against Tom Pace of Kealakekua on the Big Island claiming Pace has failed to live up to a "Buffalo Purchase Agreement" he signed in 1998.The lawsuit filed in Kauai Circuit Court alleges Pace owes a balance of $147,500 for 121 buffalo and three used generators that were delivered to him.
The lawsuit indicates the going price of a buffalo in Hawaii as of February was just under $2,700 but states the price could be higher in the case of buffalo cows that were pregnant at the time they were turned over to Pace.
Pace could not be reached for comment.
Philip Leas, attorney for Hanalei Garden Farms, was out of state, according to his office.
Former attorney fined for excise taxes owed
Circuit Judge John C. Bryant Jr. fined former Honolulu attorney Glenn H. Kobayashi $7,500 yesterday for failing to file general excise tax returns from 1996 through 1998.Kobayashi pleaded no contest to the charges.
The court also granted Kobayashi's motion for a deferred acceptance of his plea.
State Tax Director Ray Kamikawa said Kobayashi earned in excess of $250,000 from his law practice during the period he failed to file general excise tax returns.
H-1 lane to be closed near Palama overpass
One lane of the H-1 freeway near the Palama overpass will be closed to westbound motorists tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. as the state replaces highway lighting, according to the state Transportation Department.The department also announced that work on widening Kunia Road from Anonui Street to South Kupuna Loop and Ramp KO in the H-1 Kunia Interchange will begin Monday at 8:30 a.m.
Daily construction will last until 3:30 p.m.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Driver killed, two hurt in collision near Waialua
A man was killed early this morning near Waialua when he lost control of his pickup truck and slammed head-on into another truck.The man, whose identity was not immediately known, was headed east on Kaukonahua Road in his 1992 Ford Ranger pickup when he crossed into the westbound lanes at 12:25 a.m. and sideswiped a 1991 Nissan Sentra, police said.
Police said the Sentra, driven by an 18-year-old man, spun out onto the side of the road. The driver was not injured.
The Ranger continued heading east in the westbound lanes near Farrington Highway and collided with a 1996 Toyota Tacoma pickup with a man and woman inside.
The driver of the Ranger was pronounced dead at the scene. The two in the Tacoma were taken to Tripler Hospital, where they were listed in guarded condition.
The death is the 11th traffic fatality of the year. There were nine traffic deaths this time last year.
Sail spar breaks, injures catamaran passengers
Between five and nine people were treated for injuries yesterday after a spar broke and snapped sail cables on the catamaran Mai Tai.The incident occurred about three-quarters of a mile offshore from the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and was reported at 11:58 a.m., said fire Capt. Richard Soo. None of the injuries were critical.
Man's body, with head wounds, found in harbor
The body of a 60-year-old man was recovered yesterday from Honolulu Harbor between Piers 12 and 13.An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, police said. There were injuries to the head.
The body was recovered at 10:30 a.m. after a motorist spotted it floating in the water.
