Alleged downtown bank vandal pleads not guilty
A man who allegedly set his car on fire at a busy downtown intersection and spray-painted the main branch of Bank of Hawaii last month pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless endangering today in Circuit Court.Richard Elstner, 49, faces a Feb. 19 trial on the charge, which is punishable by a maximum five years in prison. He remains in custody in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Elstner was involved in a three-year dispute with the bank over the administration of his late father's $2.7 million estate. He alleges that his dispute with the bank was causing him an emotional, physical and financial breakdown. The latest blow to Elstner allegedly came in October when a state judge dismissed a civil suit he filed against the bank.
Elstner is being represented by the state Public Defender's Office.
Punchbowl cemetery allows plants for holidays
Officials of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific will allow potted plants and artificial flowers to be placed at grave sites beginning Thursday.The items will be removed on Jan. 2.
Christmas trees, permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, glass objects, toys, pinwheels, balloons or stuffed animals are not permitted.
Officials request that items not be secured to headstones or markers.
Also, metal hooks may not be used to secure potted plants or other decorations because they pose a safety hazard.
Japanese sub at home after Ehime Maru search
KURE, Japan >> The Japanese submarine rescue ship Chihaya returned to its base in Kure, western Japan yesterday, after completing its four-month mission to help search for the nine victims who went down off Hawaii with the fishing training vessel Ehime Maru.The Chihaya, which helped the U.S. Navy locate eight of the nine victims in the ship, brought home personal effects of the Ehime Maru crew, as well as a bell and a school flag recovered from the ship. The U.S. Navy is expected to give the retrieved items to the families Thursday.
Funds extended for Hawaiian programs
Federal funding for native Hawaiian education programs has been extended for eight years by negotiators for the U.S. House and Senate.The funding was set to expire next year.
The Hawaiian programs are included in a sweeping education bill called the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act, which faces final House and Senate votes before it is transmitted to the White House.
The education bill "reauthorizes landmark legislation ... that raise the social status of and improved education opportunities for native Hawaiians," said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which sponsored several hearings throughout Hawaii.
Under an amendment proposed by Inouye, some of the funds will be used for construction improvements and repairs at public schools with high percentages of native Hawaiian children.
Funding for the programs has steadily increased to $28 million in fiscal year 2001 from $5 million in fiscal year 1989. Inouye's amendment authorizes programs to receive $35 million annually for six years beginning in fiscal year 2002.
Programs that will continue include those for the gifted and talented; special education; higher education; curriculum development, teacher training and recruitment; family-based education centers; and community-based learning centers.
Funds for these programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Education and distributed through a competitive grant selection process.
The bill also preserves funding for an educational program involving the Bishop Museum and museums in Alaska and Massachusetts, sets aside $2,750,000 for the Native Hawaiian Vocational and Adult Education program, and sets aside $1,095,000 for Native Hawaiian Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities.
Endangered bird has new home in Waianae and Koolau Mountains
Nearly 66,000 acres in the Waianae and Koolau Mountains have been designated as critical habitat for the Oahu elepaio, an endangered Hawaiian forest bird.The designation was published last week in the Federal Register by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The habitat can support approximately 10,100 birds, officials said.
Recently, the U.S. District Court ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to publish a final critical-habitat designation for the Oahu elepaio by Oct. 31 after a lawsuit was filed in January by the Conservation Council of Hawaii. The deadline was later extended to Nov. 21.
The insect-eating forest bird, a member of the monarch flycatcher family, is characterized by a dark brown crown and back and brown streaks on the upper breast. Also, its long tail is often held up at an angle.
According to a Hawaiian legend, forest birds helped canoe makers judge the quality of koa logs. If the forest bird pecked on the wood, it was considered poor quality. If the forest bird landed on the log and sang "ono-ka-ia," it was considered good quality.
About 1,982 Oahu elepaio are known to exist in scattered locations. The species will be included in the Hawaiian Forest Bird Recovery Plan, which will find ways to remove the forest birds from the endangered species list.
The final rule designating critical habitat becomes effective on Jan. 9.
>> Hawaii Pacific University recently awarded development grants to 27 of its faculty members. The recipients are: Dr. Dale Allison, associate professor of nursing; Robert Borofsky, professor of anthropology; Dr. Patricia Burrell, associate professor of nursing; Nita Jane Carrington, assistant professor of nursing; Kenneth Cook, professor of linguistics; ReNel Davis, assistant professor of nursing; Eric Drabkin, associate professor of economics; Antonina Espiritu, assistant professor of economics; Phyllis Frus, assistant professor of writing and literature; Daniel Gefroh, assistant professor of mathematics; Gerald Glover, professor of management and organizational change; Ronnie Henze, associate professor of mathematics; Carlos Juarez, associate professor of political science and academic coordinator for international studies; Christopher Keller, associate professor of law and quantitative methods; Dr. Philip King, associate professor of psychology; John Kros, associate professor and academic coordinator for quantitative methods; Dr. Patricia Lange-Otsuka, associate professor of nursing; Gunter Meissner, associate professor of finance; Dr. Brian Metcalf, assistant professor of psychology; Ivy Lee McMullin, English as a second language instructor; Saundra Schwartz, associate professor of history and humanities; Michael Seiler, associate professor of finance; Vicky Seiler, assistant professor of marketing; John Smith, instructor and academic coordinator for mathematics; Ed Van Gorder, associate professor of management and mathematics; Niti Villinger, assistant professor of international business; and Art Whatley, professor of management. The grants will fund professional development initiatives. [TAKING NOTICE]
>> Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awarded its 2001 Professor of Survivorship Award to Carolyn Gotay M.D., Ph.D., of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii at the University of Hawaii. Each Professor of Survivorship receives $20,000 for use in advancing breast cancer research. After making significant contributions to the quality of life of breast cancer survivors over the past two decades, Gotay's current research focuses on cultural and ethnic differences in cancer-related outcomes.
>> Bates College has chosen Emily M. McClain, a psychology major and 1999 graduate of Punahou School, to participate in its Junior Semester Abroad program. McClain will be studying at the Syracuse University branch in Florence, Italy.
>> The Atherton Family Foundation has awarded a $3,000 grant to the Mediation Center of the Pacific. The money will be used to purchase new computer equipment and case management software for the organization. In addition, the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation also donated $2,600 to support a temporary restraining order mediation program at the center.
>> Easter Seals Hawaii's Kauai Early Intervention Program has been awarded a $3,050 grant by the Hawaii Hotel Association Kauai Visitor Industry Charity Walk. The money will be used to purchase therapeutic equipment for infants and toddlers with special needs. The money was raised during a charity event held this year on Kauai.
>> The J.C. Earle Family Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation has awarded a grant of $5,000 to the American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific Inc. for general cancer research program use.
>> The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has given an unsolicited grant of $200,000 to the Salvation Army and Lokahi Project to help needy families. The grant will provide holiday assistance to poor and needy families and those facing hardships in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation was created in 1959 and is the 22nd-largest charitable foundation in the United States, with assets valued at $2 billion.
>> Waikiki Community Center has presented its distinguished Makana Ola Loa (Lifelong Friend) Award to Outrigger Hotels & Resorts. WCC President Greg Wong and Executive Director Joan Naguwa presented Outrigger President and CEO David Carey and wife Cathy with a koa ukulele. Outrigger was further honored by Councilman Duke Bainum, who presented Outrigger with a Certificate of Merit from the Honolulu City Council for being named WCC's 2001 Corporate Volunteer of the Year.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HONOLULU
Aiea motorcyclist suffers head injuries on H-1
A 27-year-old Aiea man was in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center today after crashing his motorcycle last night on the H-1 Freeway.Police said the man was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on the west bound lanes of the freeway near the Vineyard Boulevard off ramp about 10 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle.
The man and the motorcycle fell to the roadway and slid into the back of a truck also traveling west on the freeway, police said. The man was then ejected from his motorcycle and suffered severe head injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. No one in the truck was injured.
Moiliili resident wrestles gun away from man
Police have opened an attempted murder investigation after a Moiliili man was able to wrestle away a handgun from someone who showed up at his apartment wearing a ski mask Saturday.Police said the 38-year-old man heard a knock on his door about 5:20 a.m. He opened the door to find a man in a ski mask holding a handgun.
Police said the man grabbed the suspect to try to wrestle the gun away. During the scuffle the gun went off and the suspect fled leaving behind the handgun. Police arrived and found the ski mask nearby. It is unknown whether or not the gun hit the suspect.
Dispute over parking stall escalates to knife assault
Police have opened an attempted-murder case after a fight broke out Saturday over a parking stall at a shopping mall.A 42-year-old man yelled at occupants of another car for taking his parking stall at Aloha Tower Marketplace at about 7 p.m., police said.
Three men, ages 21, 23 and 25, jumped out of the other car and allegedly assaulted the man, police said.
The female companion of the man saw the assault and called for help.
The man suffered knife wounds and puncture wounds to the head caused by a "spiky type" object and was in serious condition, police said.
Suspicious envelope tests negative for anthrax
A 31-year-old Makiki man called police Saturday after receiving an envelope with statements referring to Palestinians.Police said the envelope was left unopened and tested negative for anthrax by a Honolulu Fire Department hazardous-materials unit at about 2:50 p.m.
2 women arrested in theft from downtown Macy's
Police arrested two women employed by a downtown department store Saturday for allegedly embezzling more than $900 from their employer.The 23-year-old Ewa woman and 29-year-old Kalihi woman had been taking funds Dec. 8 and 9 sometime between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. from the downtown Macy's store, police said.
The women face second-degree theft charges.
Broken windshield leads to car theft, drug charges
Police arrested two men Saturday morning after noticing a suspicious vehicle during a routine check of a business area.A patrol officer making his rounds noticed a vehicle with a smashed windshield starting to drive off near North Nimitz Highway and Waiakamilo Road.
The officer ran the license plate and found the car was stolen in Kaneohe on Oct. 29. The men, ages 20 and 33, were arrested without incident and also arrested on drug charges when drugs and drug paraphernalia were found during a routine search at the Kaneohe Police Station.
WAIKIKI
Police add drug charges against murder suspect
Honolulu police have charged a suspect in a Waikiki homicide with drug offenses.Francis Mori, 52, is being held in lieu of $35,000 bail.
Mori was arrested Thursday after his girlfriend, 41-year-old Caroline Ducate, fell from the 11th floor of the Ohana Waikiki Surf East.
Investigators said that neighboring guests awoke to the sound of an argument shortly after midnight and that Mori had bite marks on his head, shoulder and left hand. Homicide detectives said there also appeared to have been signs of a struggle in Mori's hotel room.
Mori told police Ducate committed suicide.
WINDWARD OAHU
Youth facility inmate faces assault charges
An 18-year-old inmate at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility was arrested for assault, terroristic threatening and criminal property damage yesterday after he and another inmate barricaded themselves in a storage room.Police said the man hit a surveillance camera by tossing a chair at it and damaged a television by throwing a water cooler into it about 11 a.m. He and another inmate then barricaded themselves in a storage room and refused to leave.
Police said the pair also broke a fire sprinkler flooding the area. Youth Correctional Officers forced their way into the storage room and ordered the youths to lie on the ground. One of the suspects instead punched a correctional officer in the chest knocking him to the ground, police said. Police said the suspect then threatened to kill correctional officers after they subdued him.
