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Celebrating a free Philippines
Isles should complete census this week
If things go as planned this week, Hawaii will complete its portion of the 2000 Census ahead of the July 7 national deadline, officials say.In April, 58 percent of Hawaii households had mailed in census forms, lagging behind the national average of a 65 percent response.
Since then, however, about 2,000 temporary workers from census offices in Honolulu and Kailua have gone door-to-door throughout the islands.
Bob Asato, manager for the Census Bureau in Honolulu, said yesterday that the census for Hawaii is about 97 percent complete.
He said he expects final interviews this week to complete the task.
The Honolulu census office has visited more than 120,000 homes to get information from households that didn't send in the forms.
The Kailua office, which covers the Windward district and neighbor islands, visited 87,379 homes.
In-person census questionnaires take about seven minutes to complete, Asato said.
Demographic data from the census are used to allocate federal grant money and to draw congressional and other election districts.
Plagued by fatigue, Okamura won't run
State Rep. Tom Okamura (D, Aiea) announced today that he will not seek re-election this fall as he continues to battle chronic fatigue syndrome.Okamura, who missed almost all of the House sessions during this year's state Legislature, was diagnosed with the debilitating disease a year ago.
Although he has been able to work at home with the help of his office staff, Okamura said he believes the district should have an elected official who can more readily provide help for area residents.
"I will continue to work from my home until the people of Aiea elect their new representative in November," he said.
Okamura, who was first elected in 1980, served various roles in the House, including chairman of the Energy Committee and the Hawaiian Affairs committees.
In 1996, he was among a handful of legislators selected as Toll Fellows, a professional development program run by the Council of State Governments.
Hirono leads business delegation to D.C.
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono is leading a delegation of Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii members to Washington, D.C., this week.The group is meeting with Pentagon officials, representatives from each branch of the military and Hawaii's congressional delegation. They will discuss the importance of Hawaii's strategic military presence in the Pacific.
Hirono will also meet with federal transportation and State Department officials regarding the internationalization of Japan's Haneda Airport.
Opening Haneda is key to boosting tourism from Asia by increasing seat capacity to Hawaii, providing U.S. air carriers slots into Tokyo and providing travelers a convenient alternative, Hirono said.
Maui students' project gets D.C. display
An award-winning project of David Reed and Tijay Syn-Rodriques, Lahaina Intermediate School students, will be displayed in a National History Day Exhibit at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C.Their project, "Kalaupapa: The Amazing Transition," describes how leprosy threatened Hawaii in the 1800s and how public perception of the disease changed.
The National History Day theme this year is "Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events."
The Maui students' exhibit will be displayed beginning tomorrow through Sept. 4.
More than half a million students in 6th through 12th grades competed to represent their states.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Suspect in bank robbery arrested, questioned
A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday and is being questioned by the FBI regarding the robbery of the Kapiolani branch of International Savings & Loan.A man demanded money from a teller at the branch about 9:05 a.m. yesterday and threatened he had a weapon. After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, he ran up Kaheka Street, police said.
While searching the area, police saw a man matching the robber's description leaving a pool hall on Kaheka Street. He was arrested within 30 minutes of the robbery.
Two die in head-on collision in North Kohala
HAWI, Hawaii -- Two people died in a head-on collision in North Kohala last night, police said.Clifford Ignacio, 52, of Kawaihae, driving a 1987 Nissan, hit a 1998 Suzuki station wagon driven by Emily Stark, 90, on Akoni Pule Highway fronting Puakea Bay Ranch about 8 p.m., police said.
Both died; Ignacio at Kona Hospital and Stark at North Hawaii Hospital.
Dr. Barton Eveleth, 85, of Hawaii, a passenger with Stark, remains in critical condition at North Hawaii Hospital.
Ignacio was not wearing a seat belt, and speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the accident, police said.
Man arrested in armed threat to kill girlfriend
Police arrested a Makaha man yesterday for allegedly threatening to kill his girlfriend with a rifle.The two were arguing at their Makaha apartment when the suspect got a rifle from his truck and aimed it at her at 9:30 a.m. The man drove off, but was apprehended shortly afterward.
Coast Guard to attempt fuel-tank removal
The Coast Guard vessel SS Midway was to return to a long-liner grounded on the southeast side of Pearl and Hermes Atoll this morning to remove a second diesel fuel tank found during a salvage survey.The Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service last week removed 7,500 gallons of diesel from the Swordman I.
Coast Guard officials said a small amount of that first container leaked into the ocean but dissipated in the surf.
The second tank holds between 2,500 and 3,000 gallons and was discovered after the boat was pushed higher on the reef and the tide ebbed, allowing surveyors access to lower levels of the ship.
