UH regents propose raising parking rates
The University of Hawaii Board of Regents has proposed increasing parking rates each year over five years on the Manoa campus to help meet future operating needs.Public hearings will be scheduled on amendments to change the current rules governing parking regulations and rates. The increases would apply to UH employees, executives and students.
The regents, who met Friday at Kapiolani Community College, said a 273-stall parking structure is planned on the Hawaiian Studies gravel parking area. Planning and design are nearing completion and construction costs are estimated at $3.8 million. It will provide additional parking for commuting students, as well as those in the dormitories.
Future requirements also will include parking structure repairs, removal and replacement of existing fire alarm systems in the lower campus parking structures with a new unified system, a new video surveillance system and renovation of entry kiosks and roadway improvements, the board said.
Maui councilman loses license after DUI arrest
Maui County Councilman Wayne Nishiki has had his driver's license revoked for one year by the state Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office.The agency made the decision last month in the wake of Nishiki's drunk driving arrest on Aug. 30. He was also ordered to surrender all license plates and registrations of vehicles he owns.
Because it was his second DUI arrest within five years, Nishiki's license could have been revoked for up to two years. He pleaded no contest to a drunk driving in 1998.
Nishiki still faces prosecution on the latest DUI charge. He was scheduled to make an initial appearance in Wailuku District Court on Nov. 7.
Following his arrest in August, Nishiki said he was embarrassed and apologized to the community.
2 trees to be removed from Washington Place
State landscapers, Outdoor Circle authorities, Washington Place staff and a certified arborist have decided for public safety reasons to remove two Paklan trees on the Washington Place grounds.One of the trees is dead and the other in weak condition.
There are two remaining Paklan trees at Washington Place.
The Paklan trees were not original plantings from Queen Liliuokalani's era, although Washington Place is believed to be home to the oldest trees in downtown Honolulu.
OHA hopefuls invited to civic clubs' forum
All 23 candidates for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees have been invited to a forum Tuesday to discuss native issues.The forum, sponsored by the Oahu Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, will be held between 6 and 9 p.m. at the State Capitol auditorium.
Council President Jalna Keala said these forums offer an opportunity to hear from these candidates, who typically do not have large campaign funds to afford TV commercials or mass mailings.
Five of the nine seats on the OHA board are up for election. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in February 2000 opened OHA elections to all Hawaii registered voters.
The forum is the third in a series sponsored by the council, which is composed of 23 Hawaiian civic clubs with a combined membership of more than 3,000. Call 941-4946 for more information.
UH architecture school opens its doors today
The University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Architecture will hold an informational open house from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.The open house will allow faculty, staff, students and the general public to tour the facilities and learn what the program offers.
The event includes the following exhibits: "2002 American Institute of Architects Student Design Awards;" "Hillside Design in China"; "Sustainable Design."
For reservations or more information, call 956-3461.
Dole, Aloha Gardens plans to be discussed
A Castle & Cooke proposal to expand the Dole Plantation and an Aloha Gardens project by ORI Anuenue Hale Inc. will be the topic of public information meetings regarding proposed amendment of the North Shore Sustainable Communities Plan.The meeting is scheduled for Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park's John Kaili Surf Center, 66-167 Haleiwa Road.
For more information, contact Raymond Young at 527-5839 or send e-mail to ryoung@co.honolulu.hi.us.
Hawaii groups get $6 million in grants
Nine federal grants worth $6 million have been awarded to Hawaii groups to support native Hawaiian education.The funds were awarded by the Department of Education under the Native Hawaiian Education Program's Special Education and Higher Education initiatives, according to a news release Friday from U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye's office in Washington, D.C.
The largest award was a three-year grant of $2.3 million to Aha Punana Leo, Inc.
Other three-year grants included:
>> $483,115 to the Consortium for Hawaii Ecological Engineering Education.A one-year grant of $500,000 was awarded to the Native Hawaiian Island Council Program.
>> $400,869 and $212,126 to the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture.
>> $957,511 to Keiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc.
>> $473,796 to the Pacific American Foundation.
>> $573,083 and $111,110 to the University of Hawaii.
Maui hospital ready for $38 million upgrade
WAILUKU >> About $38 million in improvements at Maui Memorial Medical Center are intended to maintain the hospital as a profit-making facility under the state hospital system, Gov. Ben Cayetano told workers."Our feeling is that by boosting Maui Memorial by upgrading the facilities, we're going to improve your ability to become more profitable and help the system throughout the state of Hawaii," he said.
Cayetano appeared at a ceremony Friday honoring Maui lawmakers who were involved in getting approval for the general obligation bond authorized in the 2002 legislative session.
Proposed improvements include a parking garage and an expansion of several sections including the intensive care unit, the surgery center and the endoscopy center.
The funding was allocated from a general obligation bond for improvements.
Medical Center Administrator John Schaumburg said the hospital also hopes to add 16 to 19 new beds for intensive care to ease the load on the emergency room and operating room, which can get backlogged with critically ill patients when there isn't enough room in ICU.
A revenue bond had been approved three years ago, but the state Department of Budget and Finance blocked it after determining Maui Memorial was not generating sufficient funds to pay off the bond.
Recognizing that Maui Memorial did not generate sufficient profits to pay for all the improvements needed, Rep. Bob Nakasone (D, Waikapu-Wailuku-Kahului) said he and fellow Maui lawmakers were able to persuade colleagues to authorize the general obligation bond, which is to be repaid from the state's general fund.
Rare shell collection set for Nov. 1 showing
Part of a rare collection of shells willed to the Bishop Museum after the death of Dr. C.M. "Pat" Burgess will be displayed Nov. 1 on the first floor of Polynesian Hall.Burgess was one of the most notable shell collectors in the world, with a comprehensive collection of world-wide Cowries and Hawaiian mollusks.
The collection includes an extensive Cypraea collection that the museum said may be one of the most complete in the world, featuring about 90 percent of all mollusks found in Hawaii.
Two special Cowry shells are named in honor of Burgesses -- Cypraea burgessi Kay, 1981, for the collector, and Cypraea taitae Burgess, 1993, for his wife, Grace Tait Burgess.
Burgess wrote two books on shells: "The Living Cowries" in 1970 and "Burgess' Cowries of the World" in 1985.
The museum said his collection provides a long-term resource for support of biodiversity studies and conservation of Pacific mollusks.
|
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
LEEWARD OAHU
Man found dead in surf off Keaau Beach park
A man died in rough surf off of Keaau Beach Park yesterday on the Leeward Coast of Oahu, the fire department said.Surfers spotted the body of a middle-aged man floating face down in the water and called the fire department at about 2:30 p.m., said fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
"There was some trauma to the head," Tejada said, but added that initial evidence was inconclusive as to whether that resulted from the surf.
Ocean conditions were rough, with six- to 10-foot waves, Tejada estimated.
The medical examiner and police were still trying to determine the cause of death.
Lifeguards from the city's Ocean Safety Division were first at the scene, and used a personal watercraft to reach the body, which was about 30 to 40 yards offshore.
Firefighters assisted in bringing the man to shore. The man is estimated to be 40 to 50 years old, Tejada said.
Armed robber injures 81-year-old driver
An 81-year-old Foster Village man was robbed at gunpoint and beaten at the Pearl Harbor Commissary parking lot Friday afternoon, police said.The man was in his car backing out of his parking stall when a muscular man appeared at his window pointing a black handgun at him, demanding his wallet.
When the victim refused to hand over his wallet, the suspect punched him in the face through the open window.
The victim fell into the passenger side seat, and the suspect took his wallet and fled, police said.
The victim drove himself home and collapsed. A neighbor called 911, and the man was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center.
The man suffered serious injuries to his face, including broken bones and hemorrhaging to a membrane of the brain and spinal cord.
The man was unable to give a detailed description of the assailant.
HONOLULU
Police seek man who robbed bank in market
Police are searching for a man who held up the Bank of Hawaii in Star Market at 1620 N. School St. yesterday at 2:35 p.m.A man wearing a blue shirt, blue shorts and a blue beanie cap passed a bank teller a blue pouch and told her to fill it with all of the money from her till, police said.
The man then commanded a second teller to do the same thing and told her to hurry up because he had a gun, police said.
The suspect is in his 20s, 6 feet, 200 pounds, and has a fair complexion and a muscular build, police said.
Suspect surrenders in Aug. 22 bank robbery
Police charged a 41-year-old man Friday for an Aug. 22 bank robbery in Liliha.Leslie Doi, who has no local address, turned himself in to police Friday.
The robbery took place at 5:45 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Liliha branch of American Savings Bank.
The suspect allegedly approached the teller with a demand note and fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
Police say teen girls robbed young students
Police identified three Farrington High School girls as suspects in a series of robberies of middle school students earlier this year.The suspects, who range from 15 to 16 years of age, allegedly hijacked the Kalakaua Middle School students, averaging 12 years of age, on approximately seven different occasions, police said.
The robberies took place in the area of Kalihi Street and the H-1 freeway from January through Feb. 13.
Police arrested two of the girls Friday, and have tentatively identified a third girl.
A fourth suspect has yet to be identified.
