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Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, October 20, 2000

Events make parking
tight at Blaisdell

Those driving to the Blaisdell Center for the Star Markets Food & New Product Show or the musical "Chicago" this weekend are advised to leave their homes early.

The events mean little parking will be available at the Blaisdell Center.

Free parking will be available for the Food & New Products Show at the Honolulu Municipal Building parking lot at Alapai and Beretania streets. All nearby parking lots will charge $5 for parking.

StarMarkets Ltd. is providing a free trolley ride to and from the Alapai Transit Center and the Blaisdell Center. The pickup site will be at the Alapai Street bus lot.

The drop-off site will be at Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard (near the Blaisdell Center box office).

A complimentary trolley ride to and from the Blaisdell Center will be available for patrons dining at Ryan's Grill, Brew Moon and Kincaid's. Diners will be dropped off at the Galleria driveway on Ward Avenue.

Those attending the musical have the option of VIP parking with a pre-show catered dinner on Oct. 20 and 21 at the Blaisdell Center Hawaii Suite.

For more dining information, call 594-4015.

Cree chief to speak at
decolonization workshop

The Native Hawaiian Bar Association and the Hawaii State Bar Association are sponsoring a workshop on Hawaiian rights tomorrow at the University of Hawaii law school.

The workshop, "An Exploration of Hawaiian Rights Under International Law," is intended to give a general background on decolonization and self-determination. Discussion will center around the international framework for decolonization and the rights of indigenous peoples under international law.

Grand Chief Ted Moses, chief of the Cree Indians of Quebec, is the featured speaker at the free, public event. Moses was among the first to propose a permanent United Nations forum for indigenous peoples, which would allow indigenous peoples to participate in U.N. matters as equals with governments.

Also participating are Walter Heen, former intermediate court of appeals judge and head of the Hawaii Democratic Party, who will moderate the round-table discussion.

Former Chief Justice William Richardson will give a statehood perspective on the issue, while former federal Magistrate Ed King will share his views on the subject. King served as chief justice of the Federated States of Micronesia for 12 years and sat on the Supreme Court of Palau and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Other speakers are Poka Laenui, Keoni Agard, law professor Jon Van Dyke and law student Leihinahina Sullivan. Mahealani Kamauu will speak on behalf of Sen. Daniel K. Akaka's native Hawaiian working group that shaped the Akaka bill now in Congress.

Call 696-6393 for more information. Reservations are recommended. Call 528-8876 or fax to 696-5714.

Music, water gardens
at Hilo Rain Festival

The first-ever Hilo Rain Festival will begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow with an Umbrella Parade from Liliuokalani Gardens to Edith Kanakaole Stadium.

"Play in the Rain" is the theme of the free event sponsored by the Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation's Culture and Community Arts section. The festival is supported by the Hawaii Millennium Commission.

The day's events include martial arts exhibitions, craft booths, and a variety of performers, such as Keolo Pono No Na Kupuna, Rising Tide, and the Kaumana School Choir. Food booths will be available, as well as demonstrations in a tropical rain forest atmosphere with exhibits on aquaculture, hydroponics and water gardens.

Fraud complaints filed against travel agency

At least four fraud complaints have been filed with police by customers of CS Holiday Travel, which closed temporarily and without warning on Wednesday.

Owner Chin Suk Huh apparently has not been seen since the weekend. A missing person's report for her was filed on Monday, police said.

Huh's license to operate the travel agency lapsed on June 30, according to Jo Ann Uchida, enforcement officer for the state's Regulated Industries and Complaints Office. While it is common for travel agents to be late in renewing their licenses, "she should not have been operating during that interim period of time," Uchida said.

Customers filing complaints with police said they paid for, but did not receive, airline tickets from the agency.

Customers are expected to begin filing complaints with RICO, Uchida said.

When they do so, she said RICO will begin investigating to determine whether the agency's closure is temporary or permanent.

Uchida said travel agencies closing abruptly and leaving consumers without tickets or money has been a problem as long as she can recall, and strong criminal sanctions don't seem to be a deterrent.

This summer, her office formed a task force with the travel industry to see how the law could be fine-tuned or changed during the next legislative session.

The regulatory office needs better enforcement tools and earlier indications that a particular agency is in trouble, Uchida said.

Failure to file taxes costs med firm, official

Failure to file general excise and withholding tax returns has resulted in $5,000 in fines to Romeo Pineda MD Inc., a Honolulu medical company, and another $5,000 in fines to Rosabella Pineda, corporate secretary-treasurer.

State Tax Director Marie Okamura said the two entered no-contest pleas on Wednesday before District Judge Fa'auuga L. To'oto'o.

The fines resulted from a plea agreement over charges that both the firm and Pineda failed to file annual general excise tax returns for 1997 and withheld tax returns for 1998.

Red Cross suggests vital Boss's Day gifts

The Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering ideas for "Boss's Day" gifts.

It says a gift of "caring" will last longer than a box of chocolates. So, how about a first-aid kit for the boss's office, or even cardiopulmonary resuscitation training?

"The gift you give to your supervisor just may save a co-worker's life, or even your own," the Red Cross says.

Red Cross first-aid kits range in price from $10 to $30, while first-aid and CPR training costs $25 to $50. For more information, contact the American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter, 4124 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu 96816; or call 734-2101.

Tomorrow

Some events of interest

9 a.m., Damien Memorial High School, 1401 Houghtailing St.: Vision meeting. Contact: Keoki Miyamoto, 523-4641.

Correction In a story yesterday on Big Island mayoral candidate Harry Kim, his wife's nickname was misspelled. The correct spelling is Bobbie.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

W. Maui beaches reopen with no signs of sharks

WAILUKU -- Beaches along Olowalu in West Maui reopened yesterday afternoon after state officials were unable to find indications of any danger, following a Wednesday morning shark attack upon a California woman.

"No one saw anything that indicated a continuous risk," said Russell Sparks, a state aquatic education specialist.

Henrietta Musselwhite, 56, of Geyserville, Calif., was between satisfactory and guarded condition this morning at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Musselwhite was snorkeling on the edge of the reef a half-mile from shore in 30 feet of water near Camp Pecusa when a shark attacked her at about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Musselwhite suffered two large lacerations on her back and puncture wounds to a thigh.

A Maui woman was killed by a shark in 1991 less than a mile north of the recent shark attack.

Sparks said people should realize that when they enter the ocean, there are risks involved, and they should be careful when swimming in deep water alone.

"I don't see any reason for a being concerned more than normal," he said.

Police find 1 1/2 pounds of cocaine on Kona man

KAILUA-KONA -- Police arrested and charged a 56-year-old Kona man after he was found to be carrying 1 1/2 pounds of cocaine at Kona airport at noon yesterday.

The suspect, William E. Lowe, was charged with promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.

Police also seized $935 in cash from him.

Lowe was released on $6,000 bail.

Motorcyclist critical after Kailua crash

A 27-year-old man was critically injured after he lost control of his motorcycle in Kailua yesterday.

The man was speeding on Kawailoa Road when he entered a bend in the roadway and was ejected from his 1982 Yamaha motorcycle, police said.

He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. Traffic investigators said he was not wearing a helmet and that speed and alcohol are factors in the accident.

Japanese visitor found floating in Waikiki dies

A Japanese tourist died after he was found unconscious in the waters fronting a Waikiki hotel yesterday.

Family members found the man floating outside of the Moana Surf Hotel at 2:59 p.m., police said.

He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

There were no signs of foul play, police said.