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A $237,288 contract has gone to Highway Construction Co. for improvements to Kauai's Kapule Highway in the vicinity of Ahukini Road to Kuhio Highway. Contractor chosen for work
along Kapule HighwayExisting guardrails will be removed and new metal guardrails installed, along with traffic signs, pavement markings and striping. Bridge improvements also are planned. Work begins in September.
Houston law firm joins plaintiffs against OHA
A Houston law firm joined attorney H. William Burgess in filing complaints today before the U.S. District Court over the constitutionality of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.Magenheim, Bateman & Helfand of Houston has been successful fighting race-based programs in other states. Collectively, the attorneys are arguing that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is unconstitutional and that the nine OHA trustees should vacate their seats in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's Feb. 23 decision in Rice vs. Cayetano.
On July 6, Burgess filed a motion to intervene before the state high court on behalf of himself and 20 others who believe that the Rice vs. Cayetano decision makes the Hawaiian agency illegal because it discriminates on the basis of race.
The Hawaii constitution and statutes require that candidates for the OHA board have Native Hawaiian blood. The suit, filed against the state, the governor and the chief elections officer, contends that plaintiffs and voters should be able to choose who to vote for without racial disqualification.
According to a news release issued today, one of the plaintiffs, Kenneth Conklin, was denied the right to take out nomination papers for OHA solely because he is Caucasian.
Innocent plea in killing of girlfriend's father
LIHUE -- Matthew Blankswade pleaded innocent today to the shotgun murder of Jeffry Brisebois, his girlfriend's father. Circuit Judge George Masuoka set Blankswade's trial for Nov. 27.Blankswade, 21, is accused of shooting Brisebois, 48, in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun as Brisebois slept in his Wainiha home early June 26.
Blankswade told detectives that Amber Brisebois, 18, wanted her father off the property, which she and her brother own, so a group of her friends could move in. He said she stood in the doorway of her father's bedroom and watched the murder.
Amber Brisebois has not been charged with any crimes. Blankswade also is charged with a half-dozen firearms violations stemming from the theft of guns, including the alleged murder weapon, from a former employer.
Coloma-Agaran to be state labor director
Gov. Ben Cayetano has appointed Gil Coloma-Agaran to serve as the state's director of Labor and Industrial Relations.Agaran will assume the post Aug. 7, succeeding Lorraine Akiba.
Coloma-Agaran now serves as deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs..
Akiba will return to private practice with McCorriston Miho Miller Mukai.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
9 a.m., Honolulu Hale, City Council meeting room, 3rd floor: Full City Council meeting to discuss the resignation of Mufi Hannemann and Donna Mercado Kim.
Correction
The ceremonial feeding by the high chief is 'iui. A crossword puzzle Friday in Today had a misspelling.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Campus Center fire was arson, investigators say
A fire at the Taco Bell and Pizza Hut at the University of Hawaii's Campus Center was the work of an arsonist, fire investigators said.A flammable liquid was used and the fire had multiple points of origin, including the office, above the fryer and in the storeroom, said Fire Capt. Richard Soo. Damage was estimated at $160,000. Investigators also said they found evidence of a break-in.
Meanwhile, the cause of last week's house fire in Maunawili that left a family of four homeless is still under investigation.
