Airport concessionaires will get relief from state
Ten airport concessionaires who suffered financially as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks are being given rent relief by the state.Using special emergency powers for the second time, Gov. Ben Cayetano created the Airport Concession Relief Program and approved applications from concession operators at state airports to participate in the program, which allows minimum guaranteed payments established in each contract to be waived. Each concessionaire will pay rent based on a percentage of revenues.
Cayetano's office said his actions will provide about $18 million in savings for concessionaires from last September to January and will continue on a month-to-month basis throughout the emergency.
Concessionaires receiving relief are DFS Hawaii Inc., Lanai Co., Host International, APCOA, Greeters of Hawaii, Tiare Enterprises, Thomas Cook, H. Cho Enterprises, Myrna M.K. Chun and Jo Ann Sato.
Kanahele tells Land Board Aloha First will pay debt
Hawaiian activist Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele promised the Board of Land & Natural Resources yesterday that Aloha First would pay $3,000 in delinquent payments for 45 acres of Waimanalo farmland it began leasing in March.Aloha First is the entity responsible for an agreement that earmarks the use of the Waimanalo Agricultural Park land for "general agricultural purposes."
The lease with Aloha First was executed March 30. The Land Board and a predecessor nonprofit organization, Save a Nation, had been negotiating since 1993 over the lease terms for the land.
In 1994 about 80 people who had been living at Makapuu Beach Park relocated to the agricultural land.
Kanahele also told the Land Board yesterday that Aloha First would provide a performance bond within 60 days and submit a soil and water conservation plan within 30 days, said Harry Yada, Land Division administrator.
Kanahele's promise was in response to department recommendations that the lease be canceled because of noncompliance with its terms.
Land board OKs purchase of downtown post office
Plans for the state to buy all or part of the downtown Honolulu Post Office building moved a step along the paperwork trail yesterday as the Board of Land & Natural Resources approved it.The state may either buy the entire six-story, fee-simple building at 335 Merchant St. from the U.S. Postal Service, or approximately two-thirds of it. Either way, the postal service wants to keep a post office operational in the building.
The Legislature must also approve the plan, which is estimated to cost $27 million for land purchase and needed renovation work, said Noe Noe Tom, deputy director of the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs. That department hopes to move into the refurbished post office quarters from its current offices in the Princess Kamamalu Building across King Street.
Special 9/11 license plates ready at satellite city halls
Patriotic license plates created in October as a tribute to those who died on Sept. 11 are available at satellite city halls throughout Oahu.More than 4,000 license plates featuring a red, white and blue decal were issued to motorists since October. The license plates cost an additional $5 when purchased during the 45-day license renewal period. There will be a $5 replacement fee and a 50-cent emblem replacement fee for patriotic license plates that are purchased before the renewal period.
The license plates are also available on the neighbor islands at county motor vehicle offices. Each county has set its own price for the patriotic license plates.
>> Former world champion middleweight boxer Bobo Olson was knocked out by Sugar Ray Robinson and Archie Moore. An article yesterday incorrectly stated that Olson had knocked them out. Corrections and clarifications
>> Two of the four speed enforcement vans were parked at the Pali Highway on Thursday and Friday of last week. The Thursday morning edition of "Kokua Line" on Page A2 erroneously said the days were Sunday and Monday.
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.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Officers remain on leave after courts rule for them
HILO >> Two Big Island police officers accused of harming a Kau District woman remain on leave with pay despite court rulings in their favor.Kiana Dempster, 21, sought to extend a restraining order last year against officer Danny Freeman, whom she accused of raping her repeatedly since she was 15. District Judge Joseph Florendo ruled her testimony was not reliable, and refused to extend the order.
Officer Warren Ke was tried for abuse of a household member for allegedly hitting, slapping and shaking Dempster during a five-week period when he stayed at her house.
A Hilo jury found him not guilty last month.
Maj. Charles Chai said both officers remain on leave because internal investigations of whether they broke department regulations are continuing. In addition, possible criminal charges against Freeman are pending with the prosecutor's office, he said.
Meanwhile, Dempster faces trial on a charge of false reporting to police about a situation in which a friend forced her into his car. Dempster says a police officer made the report against her wishes. A trial date has not been set.
