Number of families due to lose welfare declines
The number of households in Hawaii whose time-limited state welfare benefits are to run out a month from now has dropped to 738, down from 818, a state official said.Kris Foster, an administrator with the state Department of Human Services, said another count of the state-assisted households is scheduled for mid-November.
Of the 738 households still receiving assistance, 390 are on Oahu, 264 on Hawaii, 41 on Maui and 43 on Kauai. The numbers are slightly down for each county since August. In May, there were 1,021 families scheduled to be dropped from welfare rolls.
Welfare reform acts adopted in 1996 require federal and state governments to halt payments to welfare families after five years. On Dec. 1, the first families in Hawaii will reach their time limit and will be dropped from the program.
The Human Service Department has been working with families by informing them of the deadline and trying to assist people in finding work, Foster has said.
Tesoro pays $500,000 to help sea bird colonies
Tesoro Hawaii is providing $500,000 to benefit sea bird colonies on Oahu and Kauai as compensation for a 1998 oil spill, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said yesterday.The funding will be used for three restoration projects, including protecting nesting sea birds at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. The other projects are predator control for Newell's shearwater colonies on Kauai and the Hawaii Sea Bird Sanctuary.
A hose failure at Tesoro's single-point mooring off Barbers Point in August 1998 led to 4,900 gallons of bunker oil being spilled into the ocean. About 420 gallons of oil was recovered at the site.
More than 100 sea birds were discovered oiled, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
Under the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990, federal and state agencies can seek funding to restore natural resources affected by oil spills caused by private parties.
GROUP MOURNS 2 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
>> The American Cancer Society's Camp Anuenue was recently awarded $8,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities-Hawaii. The money was used to make it possible for several Hawaii children to attend the camp, one of three held by the American Cancer Society each year for children with cancer. Camp Anuenue is a one week residential camp for children ages 7 to 17 and is staffed by more than 30 volunteers. [TAKING NOTICE]
>> The Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce recently named the following individuals as new officers: Dr. Claire Hughes, president; Robson Hind, first vice-president; Robert Piper, second vice-president; Linda Paik-Matsuura, treasurer; Elmer K. Kaai Jr., secretary; and Ainsley Ahlo, immediate past president. The new officers were honored during ceremonies held Aug. 29 at the Pacific Club.
>> The Pacific Century Fellows Program named the following individuals to participate in this year's program: Marguerite M. Chow, Thomas G. Crabtree M.D., Joseph DeMattos Jr., Yolanda DeWeese, William R. Fearn IV, Alan H. Gottlieb, Mark A. Hashimoto, Tami Leong Ho, Linda C. Lewis, Jian Liang, Kenneth J. Mansfield, Daniel K. Masutomi, Gail F. Nakama, Kristine M. Altwies-Nicholson, Grelyn C. Rosario, Scott W.H. Seu, Eric Y. Shibuya, David G. Smith, Vincent C.I.P. Souza and Madan J. Talwar. The new Pacific Century Fellows took part in a two-day retreat Sept. 14 and 15 and will also participate in monthly workshops designed to investigate critical issues facing Hawaii.
>> U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye was awarded the Eisenhower Distinguished Citizen Award by the Army Distaff Foundation. Inouye was selected for his exceptional public service on behalf of the armed services. He was honored during ceremonies held Sept. 4 in Washington, D.C.
>> Hawaii State Rep. Barbara Marumoto has been named to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The purpose of the commission is to increase participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in federal government.
>> Halau Hula Olana recently placed first in the Polynesian Cultural Center's 11th Annual Moanikeala Keiki Auana Hula Competition. Keolalaulani Halau O Lapa O Laka and Hula Halau O Hokulani placed second and third, respectively. The keiki competition is part of PCC's Na Ka Mahina Malamalama Festival held each year.
>> Jennifer A. Young has been awarded the 2001 Saint Michael's College Scholarship and Service Book Award. Young, a student at St. Francis High School, was selected for her commitment to volunteerism and leadership through community service.
>> Ronnell Nipp has been awarded the NCTE Leadership Development Award by the National Council of Teachers of English and Prentice Hall-Pearson Education. Nipp, a teacher at Waianae High School, will join 40 other educators at the NCTE Annual Convention to be held next month. She will be honored during an affiliate breakfast scheduled for Nov. 17 at the convention.
>> Adult Friends for Youth has been awarded $56,000 in grants by five organizations. The McInerny, Seto and Pettus Foundations along with the G.N. Wilcox and Frear Eleemosynary Trusts provided the money to support therapeutic outreach services to young people.
>> Lynn N. Fallin has been selected to participate as a fellow in the inaugural class of the National Governors Association and Zero to Three State Early Childhood Policy Leadership Forum. Fallin, who serves as special assistant on children and families to Gov. Ben Cayetano, is one of 14 fellows selected from around the country. She will receive a stipend for participating in the forum over the next 18 months.
Corrections and clarifications
>> Bobbi-Li Morris is a 5th grade girl at Kualapuu School on Molokai. She was misidentified in a story on page A-19 on Sunday.>> Continental Airlines will use a 235-passenger Boeing 767-400ER aircraft in its expanded Houston-Honolulu service. A Hawaii Inc. story Monday said incorrectly that it would use a 747-400ER.
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
LEEWARD OAHU
Man arrested for filming family members
A 36-year-old Waiau man was arrested last night on two counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly secretly videotaping family members in their Hoohulu Street home.Police said a 22-year-old woman discovered a video camera recording her in her bedroom about 8 a.m. The tape revealed another family member, a 20-year-old woman, was also recorded. The women determined who was responsible for the video recording and called police.
HONOLULU
Police arrest suspect after assault on ATM
A man was arrested yesterday after allegedly causing $2,000 damage to an automated teller machine after it failed to return his ATM card.He told police he went to the First Hawaiian Bank Kapahulu branch about 1 a.m. yesterday to get money to buy cigarettes. When the machine failed to return his card, police said the man pounded on the machine.
Police investigating suspicious Palolo car fire
Police are looking for a suspect or suspects who set a car on fire in Palolo yesterday. Police said neighbors woke up at 5:43 a.m. yesterday to popping sounds near the corner of Pakui Street and 9th Avenue and discovered the blazing car.Police said the neighbors called the fire department and the owner of the car, a 43-year-old Palolo man. Fire investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set in two places in the vehicle. Damage is estimated at $1,500.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island investigation nabs 143 for gambling
HILO >> Police have concluded a 22-month investigation that resulted in the arrest of 143 people for gambling offenses, they said.Charges against the suspects are awaiting decisions from the Prosecutor's Office.
The investigation began in December 1999 with vice section officers investigating craps games, a card game called Pepito, and two sports betting operations, all taking place at four Hilo business establishments and two homes in Puna.
Police declined to name the businesses.
They did not say when the arrests took place.
The suspects were arrested for 73 gambling and gambling-related offenses.
Orchid at Mauna Lani facility destroyed by fire
SOUTH KOHALA, Hawaii >> Fire destroyed a special events storage facility at the Orchid at Mauna Lani, the Fire Department said.The facility, valued at $150,000, was owned by Colony Advisors. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
[THE COURTS]
Big Isle man sentenced to 20 years for son's death
HILO >> A Big Island man who pleaded guilty in the death of his 9-year-old son was sentenced to 20 years in prison this week.Derek Waki Sr., 30, was originally charged with murder in the Aug. 23, 2000, death of Derek Jr. but changed his plea to guilty to manslaughter and abuse of a family member.
A one-year sentence for the abuse charge will run concurrently with the 20-year manslaughter sentence, Judge Greg Nakamura ruled. Waki declined to make a statement at his sentencing.
In questioning by police, Waki admitted to injuring his son on several occasions, according to court documents.
"That day, I busted his lips open," he told police.
He said he was trying to stop his son from lying to him.
Waki's girlfriend at the time, Kuulei Kane, pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the case. Her sentencing is pending.
Quadriplegic's parents sue state for negligence
The parents of a 16-year-old boy who nearly drowned and became a quadriplegic after he dove into the Waimanalo state reservoir over a year ago have sued the state for negligence.The lawsuit, filed yesterday in Circuit Court by Michael and Elizabeth Martin, contends the state, Department of Agriculture Chairman James Nakatani and others failed to make the Waimanalo Reservoir Park safe for recreational use by the public.
The suit said the state knew the park was an "attractive nuisance" that was not safe for public use but did not take steps to make it safe or prevent the public from using it.
The park, at the mauka end of Mahailua Street, was built in the early nineties. It was used by the public for swimming and diving, with the reservoir's high-density polyethylene lining being used as a waterslide.
The suit claims there were no signs prohibiting diving or notifying users of the hazards of diving into the reservoir. The reservoir's black lining also made it difficult for users to gauge its depth and potential dangers of diving head-first.
Nakatani was not available for comment.
Golden Dolls appeals liquor license revocation
Golden Dolls Showgirls is appealing the Honolulu Liquor Commission's decision to revoke its liquor license.In its notice of appeal filed yesterday in Circuit Court, attorneys for Golden Dolls allege the commission abused its discretion and acted arbitrarily in several ways, including refusing to hear additional evidence that could exonerate Golden Dolls, and alleged improper conduct by commission members and their investigation of the club.
Last Thursday, the appeal said, the commission refused to give Golden Dolls more time to support its claims that the revocation was illegal, refused to hear oral arguments, and voted against a motion for reconsideration instead of adopting a $6,200 fine recommended by a deputy corporation counsel.
In comparison, another club that had racked up violations far more serious than those alleged against Golden Dolls was fined $36,000, but did not have its license revoked, according to the appeal.
Golden Dolls is asking for relief, including a reversal of the commission's decision and that the commission be ordered to hear additional evidence.
Liquor Commission members were not available for comment.
Hearing arranged for man accused of Kauai murder
LIHUE >> A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday in Kauai District Court for William McCrory, 45, on a charge of second-degree murder. He is accused in the stabbing death Friday of Brent "Kerby" Kerr, 44. Kauai police said they believe Kerr was killed in Nawiliwili and his body taken to Wailua, where it was dumped in brush near the closed Coco Palms Resort.
