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Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, July 21, 2000

12 MIAs' remains coming
here from N. Korea

Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Remains believed to be those of 12 American soldiers missing in action from the Korean War will be repatriated this weekend, the Pentagon said.

The remains will be flown on a U.S. Air Force aircraft from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Yokota Air Base, Japan, the Pentagon said in a statement yesterday.

The remains then will flown to the Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Honolulu, where forensic investigators will try to determine individual identities.

A U.S.-North Korean team working in Unsan and Kujang counties, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang, recovered the remains during an operation started June 25.

The area saw battles in November 1950 between Communist Chinese forces and the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division and 2nd and 25th Infantry Divisions, the statement said.

The recovery operation is the 13th in North Korea since 1996. Four more are scheduled for this year, with the fifth operation scheduled to conclude on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Of the 88,000 U.S. service members missing in action from all conflicts, more than 8,100 are from the Korean War.

Clinton boosts EWC for
Okinawan programs

President Bill Clinton has given the East-West Center's Okinawa business and education initiative a big boost and dedicated the new graduate studies program to the memory of his friend, former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

In an address yesterday at Okinawa's Peace Memorial, Clinton said the program has the support of both the United States and Japan.

The initiative, proposed in early 1999 by Charles E. Morrison, East-West Center president, features four components: graduate studies in business and Asia-Pacific studies; practical in business; faculty exchange; and support for Okinawan aspirations to develop a home-based Asia-Pacific research institute modeled on the East-West Center.

"The Okinawan program will be an excellent addition to the special educational opportunities at the East-West Center, complementing our existing South Pacific and East Timorese programs," Morrison said.

Hogue hopes to sport title of state senator

Former Channel 2 sports director Bob Hogue's next competitive event may be a run at elective office.

Hogue says he is considering campaigning for the state Senate from the 24th District of Kaneohe and Enchanted Lake as a Republican.

State Sen. Marshall Ige is the Democratic incumbent. While he has taken out papers, he has not yet filed for re-election.

Also interested in the seat is Stan Koki, another Republican and former state senator, who ran for lieutenant governor with Linda Lingle two years ago.

Hogue, who writes a sports column and hosts a radio talk show, said he would leave it up to his employer, KCCN-AM radio, as to whether he would have to halt his radio show to fulfill the federal equal-time provisions.

EPA: State doing well in hazardous waste job

The state hazardous waste program has won tentative approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Hawaii is doing an excellent job managing its hazardous waste program," said Felicia Marcus, the EPA's regional administrator.

"Hawaii's program will enable local island-based inspectors to quickly respond to tips and complaints, improving monitoring and violations enforcement," she said.

"We are looking forward to receiving full delegation of the hazardous waste program from EPA," said Gary Gill, Hawaii's deputy director for environmental health. "This will allow our team to be more efficient and responsive to local situations."

Federal law is designed to encourage hazardous waste recycling.

The EPA is seeking public comment on this activity. A public meeting will be held at Kawananakoa Intermediate School at 5 p.m. Tuesday, and a formal hearing to receive comments will be held at the school at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Interfaith peace rites scheduled Monday

Representatives from Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Baha'i and traditional Hawaiian religions will join in an interfaith service for peace Monday.

The 10 a.m. service at the Baha'i Community Center, 3262 Allan Place, will be sponsored by the Hawaii chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.

"We invite everyone who shares our goal of promoting peace in the community, state, nation and world," said Ruben Betancourt.

He said the local chapter of the interfaith group is being revived. For information, send an email to 74002.3534@compuserve.com

Hana library to close for work on the roof

The public and school library at Hana, Maui, will close Monday for a reroofing project.

It should reopen Aug. 2. Book drops at the library and in front of the U.S. Post Office will stay open.

Patrons with questions about books or other library materials may call Kahului Public Library at 873-3097 while the Hana facility is closed.

Corrections The Pearl City task force heard complaints about fallout from construction of a new road above Pearl Highlands Center. A story Wednesday said incorrectly that it was the Pearl City vision team. James Ka, a Kamehameha Schools graduate who played for the Outrigger Canoe Club 18-under open team, was named a junior All-American at this week's U.S. Junior Olympics volleyball competition. Another player was incorrectly named in a Sports story in one edition Wednesday.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Missing Maui windsurfer spotted by fishermen

WAILUKU -- Maui fire rescue workers this morning rescued a missing windsurfer from large concrete pilings along the breakwater at the entrance to Kahului Harbor.

Ed Williams, 53, had been reported missing at 7 p.m. last night by his wife after he failed to return from windsurfing off Kanaha Beach Park.

Assistant Fire Chief Greg Chong Kee said fishermen laying nets saw the man clinging to the pilings shortly after 6 a.m. today.

Williams was not injured, the fire department said.

A Coast Guard helicopter assisted in the search overnight until about 1:40 a.m. and rejoined the search in the morning.

Big Isle woman killed, two hurt in accident

HILO -- A Big Island woman was killed and two other people were injured in a two-car accident on Volcano Highway in Mountain View yesterday, police said.

Joni Scott, 37, of Mountain View was heading downhill on the wet road about 10:30 a.m. when she lost control of her Chevrolet Blazer. It struck an oncoming Honda Accord driven by Shawn Kaikala, 35, of Mountain View, police said.

Kaikala was found dead at the scene, paramedics said. Scott, and a passenger in Kaikala's car, Fredrine Caminos, 35, were admitted to Hilo Hospital in stable condition, police said.

Kaikala's death was the 23rd traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island, compared to 16 at the same time last year.

Molokai brush fire chars state homestead land

WAILUKU -- Maui County Fire Capt. Jerome Kalama said he doubts the cause of a 140-acre fire that burned mainly brush land in central Molokai will be determined. Kalama said firefighters searched for the origin of the fire and were unable to find clues.

The fire began near Puukapele Avenue at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday and was extinguished at 7 a.m. yesterday. But firefighters returned to the area yesterday to put out flare-ups.

The fire did more than $10,000 in damage to fences, plastic pipes, windbreaks and some crops, including dryland taro and papaya, Kalama said.