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Maui's Sen. Tanaka won't seek re-election
Democratic state Sen. Joe Tanaka, 58, who has represented Wailuku and Upcountry Maui since 1992 ,will not run for re-election.Tanaka, vice chairman of the Water and Land Use Committee, says he is leaving to pursue other business ventures and to spend more time with his family.
He recommended that Kalani English, a Maui County councilman, take his place in the Legislature.
"It is time to pass the torch to a fine young man ... he is a capable officeholder and always has the people of Maui at heart," Tanaka said.
Tanaka served six years on the Maui Council before succeeding former state Sen. Mamoru Yamasaki. Tanaka is the second state senator to say he would not run for re-election. Senate President Norman Mizuguchi also is retiring.
Comment sought on District Judge nominees
Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon is seeking public comment on nominees for a judge of Honolulu District Court.The Judicial Selection Committee submitted the following six individuals for the position: Philip Doi, Ray S.T. Enos, Hilary B. Gangnes, Yvonne Y. Izu, David W. Lo and Peter T. Stone.
The nominee appointed will fill the vacancy left by the appointment of Judge Karen Ahn to Circuit Court on May 10.
Those who would like to comment about the character and qualifications of the nominees should mail, fax or deliver written comments to: Honorable Ronald T.Y. Moon, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 417 S. King St., Honolulu 96813, fax number 539-4703.
Written comments must be postmarked, faxed or delivered no later than July 24, or delivered to the above address. All comments will be confidential.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HPD hunts for
By Jaymes K. Song
some leads in three
homicides this week
Star-BulletinPolice continue to hunt for clues and suspects in connection with three unsolved murders this week on Oahu, including two yesterday.
A 43-year-old man was found unconscious and seriously injured shortly after midnight outside his Farrington Highway home, across from Maili Beach Park, police said.
His girlfriend reported hearing yelling shortly before he was found lying on the Waianae-bound lanes of Farrington Highway with head and internal injuries, police said. He was taken to Queen's Hospital, where he died several hours later.
Some witnesses reported seeing the man being beaten, though not in the area he was found. He apparently had been repairing his car in the parking lot of Maili Beach Park before he was found injured.
Doctors told police the injuries could have been caused from being hit by a car, but there were no signs of a motor-vehicle accident, said Lt. William Kato.
The second slaying, at the Pagoda Hotel in the Keeaumoku area, initially was thought to have been a suicide.
A 52-year-old Kauai man was found stabbed to death inside his room there.
He arrived in Honolulu on Monday for medical treatment, according to a detective's report. Yesterday morning, a 911 call for help was made from his room.
Hotel security entered the room and found him dead. He was pronounced dead at 7:41 a.m.
On Sunday morning, 67-year-old Johanna "Kobi" Lewis was found slain inside her Makaha home.
Police said an intruder appears to have searched a small section of the home, but they have not been able to determine whether anything had been taken. Neighbors said Lewis had been robbed a few weeks ago. Neighbors also reported that several transient people had been coming in and out of Lewis' home during the past few weeks. A social worker had to be called to ask some people to leave, police said.
Lewis recently had a stroke, which neighbors say left her paralyzed, and police found a walker in her home.
No arrests have been made in the three homicide cases.
