Governor accuses judges of setting speed limits
Gov. Ben Cayetano complained again yesterday about judges tossing out speeding tickets generated by privately operated traffic cameras unless they are 10 mph or more over the posted limit.He said he will take up the matter with Chief Justice Ronald Moon, who has appointing authority over the district judges who handle traffic cases.
The judges are wrong to dismiss the tickets because they are in effect increasing the speed limits, a decision best left to state officials or lawmakers, Cayetano said.
Since the courts began taking up the camera-generated tickets, about two-thirds have been dismissed because they were below the 10 mph margin established by the judges.
Group to protest state's Good Friday observance
The Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church will protest the Good Friday holiday in a 1 p.m. demonstration tomorrow at the state Capitol.The fact that a Christian religious holy day is observed as a holiday for state and city workers is a violation of the constitutional ban against government establishment of religion, said the group's President Mitchell Kahle. He said the group does not object to observing Christmas and Easter, both of which have secular traditions such as Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.
"Good Friday, on the other hand, is 100 percent religious; there is not a single non-Christian aspect."
Kahle recalled that a 1998 bill attempting to substitute an "Aloha Day" public holiday was killed in a Senate committee.
Past efforts to delete the holiday ran afoul of state workers' labor contracts, which provide at least one paid holiday per month.
Crucifixion painting's 'resurrection' to be feted
Several organizations will celebrate the "resurrection" of the painting "Last of the Believers" at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow in the courtyard of Honolulu Hale.The painting by artist Daria Fand was the focal point of a lawsuit against the city by the American Civil Liberties Union when the city refused to have the piece displayed last year as part of an "Art of Women" exhibit tied to Women's History Month. The painting depicts a nude woman on a crucifix.
A settlement calls for the painting to be displayed as part of this year's exhibit.
Sponsoring tomorrow's event are the Hawaii Women's Political Caucus, the University of Hawaii-Manoa Student Equity Education Diversity Office, the UH Center on Disability Studies and City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi.
Isle dental group honors first lady
First lady Vicky Cayetano has received an "Award of Honor" from the Hawaii Dental Association for her participation in a water fluoridation public service campaign and her support of the dental clinic at the Queen's Medical Center.Other awards included the "President's Award" to Drs. Russell Masunaga and George Wessberg, co-founders of the Dental Samaritans, and the "Lifetime Achievement Award" to Dr. Mark Tajima.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWAIKIKI Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Homeless man breaks band director's leg
A 44-year-old homeless man assaulted a high school band director from the mainland whose band was practicing at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand, police said.Police said the alleged assault occurred at about 2:40 p.m. yesterday after the suspect interfered with the band's practice and confronted the band director.
The victim, a 32-year-old man, suffered a broken leg. Witnesses told police the suspect twisted the victim's leg at the foot and ankle during the assault.
HONOLULU
Wahiawa man injured in high-speed accident
A 42-year-old Wahiawa man is in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center after his pickup truck crashed into two parked vehicles this morning in Kalihi.Police said the man was traveling at a high rate of speed mauka on Waiakamilo Road about 1:40 a.m. when his truck clipped a light pole and struck a parked van and several street signs near the Dillingham Boulevard intersection. The man's truck continued traveling mauka and across to the Ewa side of Waiakamilo Road at the Kaumualii Street intersection where it crashed into a station wagon. Police said speed is a factor in the crash but it is unknown whether alcohol use also contributed.
EAST OAHU
Tip on Kahala vandalism leads police to stolen car
A tip to police regarding vending machine vandalism helped recover a stolen car yesterday in Kahala.An anonymous caller told police that several men were attempting to break into a soda machine at Wilson Park at 3:25 a.m.
Police said the caller identified the suspect vehicle as a gray Toyota. When police got to the scene, they saw a car matching that description and discovered that it had been stolen earlier in Wahiawa.
Police identified all three male suspects as Waianae residents, ages 20, 27 and 29, and arrested them for criminal property damage and driving a stolen vehicle.
