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The wheel of misfortune
The Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a 6:30 p.m. public hearing tomorrow on the possible reintroduction of nene on Molokai. Molokai hearing on
nene reintroductionThe department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Pu'u O Hoku Ranch are proposing to establish a free-ranging population of 75 nene, or Hawaiian geese, on Pu'u O Hoku Ranch property, and 200 nene elsewhere on Molokai.
The nene is Hawaii's state bird. It does not presently exist in the wild on Molokai.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Kilohana Intermediate School on Molokai.
Gill to battle Rutledge for hotel union post
Eric Gill will challenge incumbent Secretary-Treasurer Tony Rutledge in this month's election of Local 5 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union.Gill tried to run against Rutledge in the January 1998 election, but was left off the ballot for alleged failure to pay union dues.
Rutledge ran unopposed and received 75 percent of the votes cast.
Last December, U.S. District Judge Sam King threw out the 1998 election results. King said Gill's removal from the ballots denied union members the ability to choose another candidate.
Yesterday, Gill, a union member since 1982, said, "I have always paid my union dues."
He criticized the union for "creating an artificial union dues crisis."
At a fund-raiser last night for Gill and presidential candidate Hernando Ramos Tan, Gill challenged Rutledge to a debate to address issues such as Waikiki hotel contract negotiations, the loss of union jobs due to subcontracting and the current leadership.
Rutledge could not be reached for comment.
The new ballots will be mailed on March 16 and counted on April 6.
Ewa Beach residents get more aircraft noise
The state Transportation Department is warning Ewa Beach residents to expect additional aircraft noise nightly due to runway closures for pavement resurfacing at Honolulu Airport.Aircraft will be flying over Ewa Beach and Iriquois Point during the runway closures from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Resurfacing work begins today. The first phase will be completed March 17. The second phase will be from April 10-12.
Man accused of trading benefits for drugs
An Oahu grand jury has indicted an Oahu man for allegedly trading his welfare benefits for crystal methamphetamine.Howard R. Gibson, 48, was charged last month with one count of second-degree theft, three counts of promoting dangerous drugs in the third degree and three counts of welfare fraud.
Gibson allegedly failed to report income from a workers' compensation settlement and traded his electronic benefit transfer card for crystal methamphetamine.
In 1998, welfare recipients began using the electronic benefit transfer cards in place of state warrants and food stamp coupons.
The card, like a debit or credit card, leaves a record of transactions for criminal investigators.
The Department of the Attorney General has a zero tolerance policy regarding welfare fraud.
Anyone with information about individuals fraudulently receiving or exchanging welfare benefits should call the Welfare Fraud Hotline at 587-8444.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Injured break-in suspect arrested at hospital
Police arrested a 41-year-old man Saturday morning after he checked into Castle Hospital for injuries on his head and arms, allegedly suffered when he fell through the ceiling at Blockbuster Video in Kailua.The suspect, who had 77 prior arrests, and another man set off alarms at 6:42 a.m., when they apparently entered the store through the roof and attempted to pry open the safe, police said.
A store manager responding to the alarms found the suspect on the floor after he had apparently fallen through the ceiling tiles. The suspect fled through an emergency exit, but the manager was able to identify him at the hospital, police said.
Police are looking for the other suspect, who apparently escaped through the roof.
Questionable ticket leads to arrest at airport
A 19-year-old man was arrested by police last night at Honolulu Airport when he tried to board a flight to Seattle using a ticket allegedly purchased with a stolen credit card.The suspect also attempted to flee from police while handcuffed, adding escape to the charges already pending against him. The arrest was made at 9:35 p.m. The credit card was reported stolen Saturday by a 60-year-old man visiting from Fresno, Calif. The suspect worked in the hotel where the burglary took place, police said.
Police catch a suspect in assault; 2nd sought
Police captured one of two suspects who allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old Wahiawa man last night at his Lakeview Circle residence.The suspect, 35, was arrested at 9:45 p.m. by police responding to a call from neighbors. The suspect and another man, who fled the scene, were attempting to remove stereo equipment from the victim's vehicle.
The victim told police he fled after being punched and kicked by the two men.
He returned home to find they had broken into his vehicle, and allegedly was attacked again when he confronted them, police said.
Would-be robber caught by employees, arrested
Employees at Kmart's Salt Lake store assisted police in apprehending a robbery suspect yesterday.The 26-year-old man attempted to rob a cashier at 3:23 p.m. using a toy gun. After the cashier refused to comply with his demand, the suspect fled from the store.
Employees followed the man to Ala Alii Street and held him for police.
Fires destroy two homes in eastern Big Island
HILO -- Fires destroyed two homes in East Hawaii on Saturday afternoon.An apparently vacant house on Wilson Street belonging to an unknown owner burned during the mid-afternoon, officials said.
Then, about 6 p.m., fire destroyed a small, cabin-like house owned by Tracy Eslinger and occupied by Jonathan Shaw in Fern Forest, 20 miles south of Hilo.
It was not immediately known what caused either fire.
