State starts fiscal year with boost in revenues
The state started the new fiscal year with a 12.7 percent increase in tax revenues in July, officials said yesterday.Revenue deposited in the state general fund last month totaled $289.3 million, a $32.7 million increase over July 2001.
The state's largest revenue source -- general excise and use taxes -- increased $41.1 million.
Tax Director Marie Okamura attributed the increase, in part, to a tax law change that allowed some monthly and quarterly taxpayers to file at longer intervals.
The change pushed some of last fiscal year's general excise and use tax revenue into the new fiscal year, Okamura said.
The same filing change was also partly responsible for a 6.6 percent increase in transient accommodation, or hotel, taxes, she said.
Meanwhile, individual income tax collections declined $7 million, while general fund deposits from the "all other" tax category decreased 4.9 percent.
Part of Alapai to close for construction
The two right-most lanes of Alapai Street between Hotel and South King streets will be closed Monday to Aug. 23 for construction of a concrete bus pad fronting the bus terminal.Parking will not be allowed on either side of King Street on the block between Kawaiahao and South streets. There will be some traffic flow changes at the intersections of Kapiolani Boulevard, South King and South streets.
Drivers are advised to use alternate routes and allow for extra travel time. "It's going to cause gridlock," said Department of Transportation Services construction manager Ray Santo.
The Alapai Street bus stop near the construction site will be temporarily relocated 50 feet mauka of Hotel Street.
The department said the concrete bus pad will better withstand the deterioration caused by buses making frequent stops in one area.
Waianae will host Sunset on the Beach
Waianae will host its second Sunset on the Beach this weekend at Maili Beach Park.The event, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday, will feature 16 local eateries, an open market, a health fair and movies.
Tomorrow, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" will be shown starting at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, "Jurassic Park III" will be shown.
Free trolley service will begin at 9:30 a.m. from Waianae Mall and the Nanakuli Butler Building to Maili Beach Park. Trolley service ends at 10:30 p.m. on both days.
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[Taking Notice]
GRANTS
>> Seven artists have received $5,000 fellowships from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. They include Rachel Berman, a dancer; Kenny Endo, an ethnic music composer; Karen Yamamoto Hackler, a playwright; Phyllis S.K. Look, a director; Lisa Matsumoto, a playwright; Donald Reid Womack, a chamber music composer; Matthew Wright, a ballet choreographer.The Foundation also awarded grants in aide to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, $100,000; the Honolulu Symphony, $100,000; and Hawaii Youth Symphony, $75,000.
>> The Hawaii Library Foundation has received a $3,000 grant from the Hawaiian Electric Company and the Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation for the purchase of books for a new energy resources library collection for the Hawaii State Library.
"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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>> Guill S. Colon, who is running for the District 9 seat of the Honolulu City Council, did file his financial disclosure form by Tuesday's deadline. A story on Page A3 Wednesday incorrectly said that he missed the deadline. Corrections and clarifications
>> The state Laboratories Division of the Department of Health received more than $800,000 of Capital Improvement Project funding from the state to build a new Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory. An A1 article on Wednesday incorrectly reported the amount as $300,000.
>> A story on Page C1 Tuesday should have noted that Jade Louie's landlord alleges that she has been behind on rent at her Mililani home since October 1999. The story did not say that it was an allegation.
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
WINDWARD OAHU
Kailua woman says ex-beau made threats
Police charged a 20-year-old man Wednesday with first-degree terroristic threatening for allegedly threatening to kill his former girlfriend and her family, who live in Kailua.Police arrested Eddie Ohia, who has no local address, at Family Court without incident.
The 18-year-old woman initially reported on June 16 at 3:30 a.m. that her ex-boyfriend had called her home, making the threats.
Police said Ohia called again on July 23 at 12:40 a.m. and threatened to kill her and her family if she ever got married or had a child from someone else.
CENTRAL OAHU
Customers help stop theft at Mililani store
Customers caught a 25-year-old Honolulu man who allegedly tried to make a "beer run" at a Mililani convenience store Wednesday night. Police are looking for two men who got away.Police said the suspects entered the Island Mini-Mart on Kipapa Drive about 10:20 p.m., and one of them picked up two cases of beer.
The other two ran toward the front door, one knocking an employee out of the way, police said. They got away in a gold or brown 1984 Toyota van, license number EXJ-855, which was reported stolen Wednesday in Wahiawa.
The other suspect dropped the beer and tried to leave, but customers detained him, police said.
One of the suspects who got away is described as about 18 to 20 years old, 6 feet, 180 to 200 pounds, with a heavy build, black hair and a dark complexion. He was wearing a blue-and-white aloha shirt, white shorts and a white beanie cap.
The other suspect was about the same age, 5 feet 4 inches, 140 pounds, with a medium build, brown hair and a fair complexion. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts.
WAIKIKI
Guard helps catch thief at Waikiki hotel
Honolulu police arrested an 18-year-old male for second-degree burglary in Waikiki yesterday morning. Police said at about 1:30 a.m., a security guard for a Kaiulani Avenue hotel noticed the suspect carrying a box from an area that was not open to the public.The guard stopped the suspect and found in his possession items belonging to hotel personnel, police said.
HONOLULU
Makiki fire blamed on electrical fault
Fire officials believe a high-rise fire in Makiki Wednesday night was probably started by an electrical fault.The fire in Apartment 804 at 1616 Liholiho St. caused $120,000 in damage to the two-bedroom unit.
LEEWARD OAHU
Officials blame boy for Pearl City blaze
Fire investigators said a 6-year-old boy playing with a lighter started a fire Wednesday at a house at 1026 Luehu St. in Pearl City. The fire started about 6:30 a.m. and caused $100,000 in damage, officials said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Body on Kauai ID'd as homeless woman's
LIHUE >> The body of a woman found Aug. 1 has been identified as that of Lisa Simao, 38, a homeless person camping near Numila on Kauai's west side. Simao was last seen alive July 23. Kauai police said an autopsy was performed last week but did not determine the cause of death. The results of tissue samples sent for toxicology tests will be available in about two weeks, police said.
