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The Hawaiian Historical Society will present a free program Jan. 17 on the musical legacy of Queen Liliuokalani, featuring vocalist and Hawaiian cultural expert Nalani Olds. Historical society will
present music of LiliuokalaniAgnes Conrad, president of the board for Hui Hanai, publisher of "The Queen's Songbook," will present a short history of the making of the book.
The public is invited to attend the 7:30 p.m. program at the Old Archives Building on the grounds of Iolani Palace.
Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m.
Olds will be the musical narrator and tell the story of the queen's life, her music and her leadership of the Hawaiian people.
"The Queen's Songbook" will be available for purchase before and after the program at a special price -- $28 for soft cover, and $38 for hardcover.
The songbook includes 55 of the queen's songs, most of which have never been published before.
The queen wrote hundreds of songs and chants, including "Aloha 'Oe."
Members of the City Council are sending strong signals that they will raise bus fares sometime soon. Bus fares may become
tied to operational costsThe Council's Transportation Committee yesterday moved a resolution that would establish a fare structure tied directly to operational costs.
Increasingly, Council members are calling for bus riders to pay a bigger share of costs for a system that is heavily subsidized.
Specifically, the policy calls for a fare box recovery rate of at least 27 percent but no more than 33 percent of TheBus operations, with the remainder coming from various subsidies.
TheBus officials, who want both a policy in place and a fare increase, have testified that fares are now bringing in about 27 percent of costs, but warned that could dip to under 25 percent next year because of rising fuel costs and new programs pushed by Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Transportation Chairman Duke Bainum had been contemplating setting a recovery rate of either between 25 and 30 percent, or 30 and 35 percent.
Asked if the policy will make it more likely rates will go up soon, Bainum said, "It makes it slightly more likely, but I'm not sure yet."
City Council members are raising serious questions about Mayor Jeremy Harris' request for a midyear addition of $87.3 million in capital improvement projects. Supplemental budget
requests criticizedDespite the reservations, however, the Budget Committee advanced the bill to the full Council yesterday.
Raising the loudest objections was Councilman Duke Bainum, who said that only emergency and essential projects should be funded in supplemental requests.
Several of the proposals -- including the fronting of $750,000 for a "cancer survivors memorial" at Ala Moana Park -- appeared not to meet that criteria, Bainum said.
He also questioned the administration's practice, criticized in the past by bond raters, of borrowing money to buy equipment.
Budget Director-designate Caroll Takahashi said she believes most of the projects need to be funded before the upcoming year. But ultimately it is up to the Council to make the decisions, she said.
The projects range from $5.2 million for the purchase of Waimea Valley Park to $4.1 million in cost overruns at the Waipio soccer complex associated with the decision by the University of Hawaii to have its women's team play there.
It also targets $10.7 million for road resurfacing.
11 patients in Hawaii get medical marijuana
A couple of physicians on Kauai are treating 10 of the 11 patients now legally permitted to use marijuana for medical purposes under new state regulations, said Keith Kamita, administrator of the state's public safety narcotics division.Kamita said the first certificates were mailed out yesterday and Tuesday. The other patient is on Oahu.
Two weeks ago, the state began accepting applications from physicians who wish to administer medical marijuana to patients who suffer from severe medical conditions such as cancer, AIDS or glaucoma. Of 25 application packets sent to physicians, 13 have been returned, Kamita said.
Two applications from the Big Island were sent back to the doctors because the patients did not suffer from illnesses considered debilitating under the medical marijuana law. Kamita said the applications were not rejected, and if the physicians successfully petition the state Department of Health to consider the ailments treatable with marijuana, the certificates will be issued.
Kamita said he cannot predict how many applications the state will receive. "We expect more to trickle in," he said.
The certificates allow patients to possess and smoke marijuana for medical purposes, but Kamita said "the law is still silent on how they're going to get the marijuana, mainly because of federal law" which still prohibits trafficking of the drug. State and county police, however, will allow patients to transport the marijuana provided they have their permits with them at all times, Kamita said.
Waimea man held after slashing police officer
WAIMEA, Hawaii -- Police are holding a Waimea man who allegedly slashed an officer on the head with a knife when the officer responded to a report of domestic abuse yesterday.The officer, Matthew Paschoal, 30, was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where his wound was stitched, police said.
The incident began at 8:09 a.m. when police received a call that a woman had been hit on the head and nose and that her husband had locked himself in the bedroom of their Lakeland subdivision home with a large knife, police said.
A crisis negotiator was called in, but at 11:50 a.m. police decided to attempt to force their way into the bedroom.
The suspect used a metal cart to keep officers from opening the door completely and slashed at Paschoal when he tried to enter the bedroom, police said.
The officers resumed negotiations without success. Finally they shot pepper spray into the room, and the suspect surrendered, police said.
He was arrested for abuse of a household member and seven counts of attempted murder.
Two girls suffer burns in Maui cottage fire
KIHEI, Maui -- Fire of an unknown origin destroyed a one-story cottage in Kihei about 11 a.m. yesterday, the Fire Department said. Two girls at the house suffered minor burns and were taken to Maui Memorial Hospital for treatment.Damage was put at $15,000 to the home, $2,500 to the contents, and $2,500 to the outside of a nearby building. The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
3 p.m., UH-Manoa: Lecture on "Sustainable Tourism" in the Architecture School Auditorium.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Robber hits man in head with gun at Aiea home
A 19-year-old was struck in the head with a gun by a robber last night at an Aiea home, police said.The incident occurred at 99-244 Aiea Heights Drive at 11:45 p.m. Two 19-year-old men and a 20-year-old woman were in the garage of the home when a man in his 20s walked up and hit one of the men in the head with a gun, police said. The victims ran away, but the suspect followed one of the men into a back bedroom of the house and demanded money, police said.
The suspect spotted the female's purse and a camcorder and took both items.
The suspect is described as between 25 to 27 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 198 pounds. He was wearing a hooded red long-sleeve shirt and shorts and was barefoot.
Man stabbed in chest during Keeaumoku fight
A 45-year-old man allegedly stabbed another man in the chest yesterday during a fight near Crown Billiard on Keeaumoku Street.The victim, 37, and another person were walking to the pool hall at around 6:15 p.m. Both the victim and the suspect began verbally challenging each other in the parking lot, police said.
The suspect punched the victim, pulled out a pocketknife and then chased and stabbed the victim, police said.
The victim's friend called police, and the suspect was arrested at the scene.
The victim was taken to Queen's Medical Center. Police have no report of his condition.
Suspect turns self in after Kailua attack
A man turned himself in to police yesterday after allegedly attacking another man in a parking lot in Kailua last weekend.The suspect approached the victim Saturday afternoon in a parking lot at 201-A Hamakua Drive and kicked him in the head several times, causing serious injuries, police said.
The victim suffered a split lip, bruised left cheekbone and bruised left eye. His front teeth were pushed inward, and he was bleeding from his mouth. The victim is still at Queen's Medical Center.
Witnesses and the victim identified the suspect during a police photo line up.
The suspect turned himself in at the Kaneohe Police Station after he was contacted by police.
Burglary, theft suspects charged, held in Hilo
HILO -- Police have charged two Hilo men in connection with a series of burglaries and thefts.Stephen Mark Wessing, 46, charged with a burglary, three thefts, car theft and prohibited possession of a firearm, was being held in lieu of $15,000 bail.
Amos James "Butch" Smith, 54, charged with two counts of prohibited possession of a firearm, was being held in lieu of $8,000 bail.
Police initially investigated reports on Monday of burglaries at Big Island Car Doctor and Hawaii Petroleum, both in the industrial area near Hilo harbor, the area where Smith lives.
An investigation lead to search warrants at Smith's Auto Repair and the old Shuman Lumber Co. where detectives say they found more than $10,000 in stolen property.
Police are continuing the investigation, possibly linked to numerous burglaries in nearby areas, and asked anyone with information to call 961-2381 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
