Hirono anticipating spirited primary election
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono said she expects a "very spirited" Democratic primary election in 2002 when she is expected to go head-to-head against Jeremy Harris for the governor's seat.The former state legislator said her announcement as a candidate for governor is forthcoming, and she expects the gubernatorial primary race will allow the public to compare the two candidates and their positions on issues.
"I bring a lot of experience to the table," Hirono said yesterday.
"I bring, I think, a way of bringing together people that is very collaborative, that is very much a partnership."
Hirono acknowledged that Mayor Harris -- who will resign as Honolulu mayor in the summer of 2002 -- may use his remaining time in office to take on high-profile city projects to raise his public image.
Hirono said while city public works projects are important, work at the state level has to do more with policy issues, such as how the state is going to change its educational system and what kind of resources it will commit to help teachers and the schools.
"So there are a lot of policy issues that I think never really come up at the city level that we deal with every day at the state level," Hirono said.
The lieutenant governor said she expects a costly primary election, one that will benefit the voters.
High winds cause outages on Maui
LAHAINA -- High winds gusting to about 40 miles an hour caused several power outages in west Maui within an 8-hour period starting last night and broke three wooden power poles near Puamana this morning.Three power outages in Lahaina and Kaanapali lasted for less than a minute in most areas as power lines touching each other caused a short circuit and were automatically reset, Maui Electric supervisor Stephen Bianco said.
Bianco said Maui Electric transferred most customers in Kaanapali to other sources after the second outage at 11:37 p.m. yesterday
The broken power poles caused a power outage in the Launiupoko and Olowalu at 5:49 a.m. Power was expected to be restored later this morning.
Judiciary breaks ground for Kaneohe courthouse
The state judiciary broke ground yesterday on a new $8.9 million Kaneohe courthouse. The courthouse will be located on two acres of state land originally part of the Hawaii State Hospital, at the corner of Pookela Street and Keaahala Road.The 28,000 foot bi-level courthouse will have two courtrooms, secure holding facilities, public and staff areas and parking.
It is named after Justice Abner Paki, one of the original Hawaii Supreme Court justices, who served from 1842-1847.
The contractor is Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc. AM Partners, Inc. designed the project which is scheduled for completion in June, 2002.
$10.4 million in grants awarded for isle projects
Hawaii has been awarded $10.4 million in federal grants for various projects announced by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. The largest award, $1.9 million, goes to the Department of the Attorney General. That money will be used to "assist crime victims through intervention, counseling, emergency shelter and criminal justice advocacy," Inouye said.The money comes from the Crime Victims Fund, which is supported completely by fines paid by federal criminals.
Others receiving money include:
>> Consortium for Pacific. Arts and Cultures, $1.8 million.
>> University of Hawaii Sea Grant Support, $1.7 million.
>> Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (Head Start), $1.2 million.
>> Pacific Research Institute, $586,358.
>> Hamakua Health Center, $531,250.
>> Family Support Services of West Hawaii, $474,549.
>> Hawaii Department of Human Services (Youth Services), $400,000.
>> Kalihi-Palama Health Center, $296,250.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Police ask for help in identifying vandal
HILO >> Police are asking for the public's help in finding out who fired more than 150 pellets into two plexiglass windows of The Gas Company Monday night causing more than $1,000 in damage.Anyone with information is asked to call 961-2213 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Maui fire officials end search for lost fisherman
WAILUKU >> Maui fire officials have suspended the search for a man who was swept by a wave into the ocean while throwing a fishing net.Louis "Juni" Galam Jr. , 47, of Wailuku was near the shoreline at Nuunuuloa in southeast Maui when a wave swept him out Sunday morning.
Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro said Galam swam for about an hour trying to reach shore and disappeared after a wave struck him.
Two people who were in the area with Galam drove for about 45 minutes to the nearest telephone at Kaupo Store to call for help at 7:54 a.m.
Cordeiro said the search was suspended yesterday afternoon, after fire rescue workers searched by helicopter, land and water for three days.
Waimea auto accident results in 1 death
A two car collision in Waimea killed a grandfather from Canada and sent three other people to The Queen's Medical Center yesterday afternoon.Sunset Beach firefighters responding to the scene said the accident involved a family of five from Canada in one car and a group of 5 local residents ranging in age from 11 to 17-years-old in a second car.
Firefighters said the collision occurred while the Canadian family was headed toward Haleiwa along Kamehameha Highway and the other car was making a right turn out of Waimea Valley Adventure Park.
The impact killed an elderly male sitting in the back seat. The victim's wife was flown by Army medevac helicopter to Queens where she was listed in fair condition and held for overnight observation.
The 17-year-old female driver of the other car and a 16-year-old female passenger were also flown to Queens.
The driver was listed in critical condition and the passenger was listed in guarded condition as of last night.
Although the investigation is still ongoing, Honolulu police traffic officials said it appears the cause of the accident was inattention of the driver who was pulling out of the park. Police do not consider speed to be a factor at this time.
Trimaran runs aground; 5 air-lifted to safety
Fire rescue crews air-lifted five people off their trimaran yesterday afternoon around 4 p.m. near the Honolulu Airport reef runway.Fire officials said that one of the trimaran crew said he "missed the channel" and ran aground while trying to come to shore.
No one was injured.
