Davis Yogi is named airports administrator
Davis Yogi, state human resources director, has been selected as state airports administrator.Transportation Director Brian Minaai announced the appointment yesterday, filling the position vacated by Jerry Matsuda, who retired.
Minaai cited Yogi's experience in the public sector and private business at Cabinet-level and senior management positions as reason for his appointment.
Yogi also has served as vice president of Brewer Environmental Industries.
City reaches land deal with Bank of Hawaii
The city has reached a nearly $9 million deal with Bank of Hawaii to buy about 6.8 acres of land formerly occupied by the Aiea Sugar Mill.The city will use half of the site for the planned Aiea Town Center, a project supported by the area vision team and the Aiea Community Association. The town center will include a child day-care and community center. The balance of the land will be used for a future senior housing project.
The city has budgeted $290,000 to develop a temporary park.
Bank of Hawaii recovered the 19-acre property from Crazy Shirts last year in lieu of foreclosing on a $38 million loan to the financially strapped retailer.
In 1998, however, Crazy Shirts' former owner Rick Ralston tore down the mill after learning that it would cost millions to clean up the property laden with petroleum contaminants. The city said yesterday that Bank of Hawaii has completed the environmental cleanup of the property.
Isle ACLU sues to stop proposed amendment
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a lawsuit in the Hawaii Supreme Court yesterday challenging the Nov. 5 general election results on constitutional amendment Question No. 3.The proposed amendment would allow prosecutors to obtain felony prosecutions by written information. Currently, charges are brought by a grand jury or a judge who hears evidence at a preliminary hearing.
Sixty percent of voters statewide voted yes, while 40 percent voted no or left the question blank.
The complaint contends that voter information prepared and distributed by the state Elections Office to registered voters contained incorrect information about the amendment and how it would work.
A state judge denied the ACLU's request for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the votes from being counted. Chief Election Officer Dwayne Yoshina could not be reached for comment.
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>> The state is doing safety work that is intended to prevent rockslides at Makapuu. A headline on a letter to the editor on Page A10 on Monday indicated incorrectly that the city was doing the work. Corrections and clarifications
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
BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
HPD traffic investigator Watson Moe looked down Thursday night at the severe impact between a Kaneohe-bound car and a Laie-bound motorcycle involved in a head-on collision on the North Shore. Two victims were flown to Queen's Hospital from Hauula Beach Park.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Coast Guard delivers sick from cruise ships
A 73-year-old heart attack victim on the cruise ship Infinity was taken by a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter to Hilo Memorial Hospital on Thursday afternoon.Cecil Brown was listed in stable condition at the hospital.
On Tuesday a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter also transported a 70-year-old Kauai man suffering from an upper respiratory infection to the Kona Community Hospital from the Norwegian Star cruise ship.
LEEWARD OAHU
HPD seeks 2 suspects for alleged hit and run
Police are searching for a man and woman who allegedly drove a Jaguar toward a police officer yesterday afternoon at Kamehameha Highway and Kanuku Street in Pearl City.The officer sustained minor injuries after the Jaguar struck the officer's marked police car's door and hit the officer's leg.
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[ COURTS ]
Makakilo mom free in desertion case
A Makakilo woman who abandoned her three children at Honolulu Airport last month will serve no prison time if she stays out of trouble.Nikki Cliff-Vasquez, 25, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Thursday, changed her plea yesterday to no contest.
District Judge Marilyn Carlsmith granted Cliff-Vasquez's request for a one-year deferral of her no-contest plea, provided she undergo mental health and substance abuse assessment and obtain treatment if needed.
Cliff-Vasquez apparently dropped off her children -- ages 4, 6 and 8 -- at the airport on Oct. 13 and told them a family member was going to take them to visit their grandmother in New York. The children were found by a security guard.
Deputy Prosecutor Maurice Arrisgado, who opposed the deferral, had recommended that she undergo substance assessment and treatment based on a police report indicating she appeared to have been smoking something at the time of her arrest.
The court also allowed Cliff-Vasquez to leave for New York next week.
