Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Second of 4 tax cuts takes effect Monday
The second year of the state's four-year $752 million personal income tax cut takes effect Monday, when the top personal income tax rate will be reduced to 8.5 percent from 8.75 percent.The tax initiative was pushed by Gov. Ben Cayetano in 1998 and began on Jan. 1, 1999.
It expands all income tax brackets, lowers the tax rates for each bracket and creates a lower-income tax credit by abolishing the food tax credit.
Under the plan, a family of four with an adjusted gross income of $35,000 a year is estimated to save $1,152 over four years. For a family of four earning $50,000, the savings will be $1,893.
During the first year, the top income tax rate fell from 10 percent to 8.75 percent. This rate drops to 8.5 percent in 2001 and to 8.25 percent in 2002.
Rates in lower-income tax brackets were reduced correspondingly.
Big Islanders, ex-cops back Correa for chief
Retired police officers and other Big Island residents turned out at a public hearing this morning to support the candidacy of acting police chief James Correa for permanent chief.Correa is one of two finalists for the position, along with Honolulu police department major Robert Prasser.
Prasser was not required to attend and did not do so.
George Yokoyama, head of the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, said a police chief needs to understand the multi-ethnic community and culture on the Big Island. "Correa was born and raised here," Yokoyama said.
Yokoyama said Correa was not connected to a promotions scandal in the department "He's clean. Nobody can pin anything on him, " he said.
Retired police officer, John Kalawe said Correa made a difference in Puna when he was assigned there as a captain.
"He was one of the figures in bringing up the reputation (of the district) for the people in Puna," Kalawe said.
Retired officer Harold Pinnow Sr. said Correa would be more familiar and more flexible with the procedures of the smaller Big Island department than someone from Oahu.
Coast Guard warns boaters to use caution
The Coast Guard will patrol and board vessels on New Year's Eve to ensure boaters use safe practices and extend common courtesy on the ocean.Boaters should not shoot off flares unless they are in distress, the Coast Guard says. Boat operators are also cautioned not to drink beyond the legal limit. The Coast Guard will issue citations to violators.
The Coast Guard also recommends boaters make sure life jackets are available for all on board since they may have more passengers than normal for the New Year's celebration.
Civil Defense, Alert System tests canceled
The state Civil Defense monthly siren test and the Emergency Alert System live broadcast that had been set for 11:45 a.m. Tuesday have been canceled.The monthly siren test and emergency live broadcast will resume in February.
Mental health service agencies to merge
Mental Help Hawaii and Maui Kokua Services, two accredited mental health service agencies, are merging to form Mental Health Kokua beginning Jan. 1.Joanne Lundstrom, chief executive officer of Mental Help Hawaii, said the merger will allow the two agencies to share expertise and expand services. Lundstrom also will be the chief executive officer of the new agency.
Mental Help Hawaii, located on Oahu, provides crisis, residential and rehabilitation services on Oahu and the Big Island. Maui Kokua provides crisis intervention and counseling services on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
For more information, call Mental Help Hawaii at 737-2523 or Maui Kokua Services at (808) 244-7405.
Statewide meetings aim at tobacco use
Special community meetings on ways to stop tobacco use in Hawaii will take place on five islands next month.The schedule:
Oahu
Jan. 15 at 1 p.m., Kahaluu Key Project, 47-2000 Waihee Road.
Big Island
Molokai
Kauai
Maui
Correction
Robert Service Academy is in Alaska, not Arkansas as reported yesterday in the Sports section.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
'Not guilty' plea for 1986 shooting
A suspect who was arrested 14 years after he was indicted for an Oahu murder pleaded not guilty today in Circuit Court.
Joseph "Binzo" Victorino, now 65, is suspected of shooting Michael B. Maher, 49, of Aiea, at a Kalihi bar in 1986. The two men were partners in a roofing business,
Victorino allegedly fled to the mainland, where he took on another name. He was arrested recently on a minor violation in Washington state when law enforcement officials discovered he was wanted here.
His trial will start in February.
Woman, struck by car earlier this week, dies
The medical examiner's office has identified the 94-year-old woman who died of head injuries last night after being struck by a car on Aala Street Tuesday.Chang Shee Pang, of Kalihi, was walking 11 feet outside a marked crosswalk near Aala Place, police said. She was struck by a 4-door sedan driven by a 45-year-old woman at 6:12 a.m. Tuesday.
Pang was taken to Queen's Medical Center where she died at 7:44 p.m. yesterday.
This was Oahu's 65th traffic fatality as compared with 47 last year.
Five Lahaina businesses damaged by fire
LAHAINA - A fire caused by sparks from construction work damaged five business in the Lahaina industrial area and caused $430,000 losses, fire officials said.The fire was reported at 8:29 a.m. in a metal building at 1034 Limahana Street. It was declared out at 12:39 a.m.
Officials determined that a worker using a cutting tool to cut metal to create a doorway caused sparks which ignited the floor above the doorway.
The two businesses suffering the most damage were S.C. Plumbing and Sly Mongoose, officials said.
Also damaged were Maui Music and Gift Shop, Island Wood Work, and Vic Lawson Co.
Police make arrest in woman's beating
Police say a 42-year-old man beat his girlfriend with a hammer and his fists yesterday afternoon, fracturing her jaw, breaking her right ring finger and rupturing her right eardrum.The incident occurred in Makaha on Moua Street.
The 29-year-old woman also had numerous bruises and abrasions , police said.
She was taken to Queen's Medical Center where she was treated and released.
Police said the couple had lived together off and on for the last eight years.
The man was arrested at about 1:20 p.m. and was to be charged today, police said.
Man, 27, is arrested after threat with knives
Police arrested a 27-year-old man who allegedly threatened to kill his brother-in-law while holding two knives.The two men were at their 1629 Kamehameha IV Road. home at 11:30 p.m. when the incident happened.
Five men face charges of prostitution
Five men, from 33 to 48 years of age, were arrested last night and early this morning on prostitution charges.All the arrests occurred in the area of Kukui and Aala Streets.
The men were scheduled to appear in District Court this morning.
California fugitive nabbed at Tripler
David Kenneth Thompson, 53, described as a fugitive sex offender by police, was arrested at Tripler Army Medical Facility yesterday with the help of public tips to CrimeStoppers.He will be returned to California for violating parole on a conviction of sexual assault against a minor.
Kailua man drowned, autopsy confirms
The medical examiner's office says Jeffrey Mack, 48, of Kailua drowned off a Waimanalo beach.Mack's body was found Saturday. An autopsy was performed earlier this week.
Plea for help locates Alzheimer's patient
A 78-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease was found last night after police issued a public call to help find her.Mary Okamura disappeared at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when her husband dropped her off in front of their condominium at 780 Amana St. After he parked the car and returned to the entrance, she had wandered away.
The family placed posters at Ala Moana and Daiei Kaheka looking for her.
She was found at about 8 p.m. last night near the Lexus dealership on Kapiolani Blvd.
