WWII Navy attractions prohibit carry-on bags
The USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin and USS Missouri have implemented a no-bag policy because the security threat level has been raised.The policy prohibits purses, handbags, fanny packs, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage and other items that offer concealment at the three tourist attractions.
A storage facility located between the USS Missouri trolley loading area and the USS Arizona Memorial is available for visitors, officials say.
Carry-on bags or other items no bigger than 30 inches in height, width and depth will be accepted at the facility. Fee for storage is $2 per item. Large luggage will not be accepted.
The storage facility is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For more information, call the Arizona Memorial's automated information line at 422-0561 or go to Web site www.nps.gov/usar.
Executive salary panel advances in Senate
When she left her civil service job as personnel program administrator in the Department of Human Resources to become director of the department, Kathleen Watanabe took a pay cut.Not unlike many of her colleagues in Gov. Linda Lingle's Cabinet, Watanabe is now in a situation where as the boss she earns less than some of her subordinates.
The Senate Labor Committee approved a bill yesterday that could correct that by creating an executive salary commission to set the salaries of the governor, lieutenant governor, department heads and deputy directors. It goes next to the Ways and Means Committee.
The salaries for these positions have not been changed since 1990.
"It is difficult to attract the types of people that government would want to attract for these types of positions ... without a raise," said Attorney General Mark Bennett, who gave up a six-figure position as a partner with the McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon law firm to take the $85,302 state job.
Legislators consider raising cigarette tax
State lawmakers are again targeting smokers this session with a proposal that seeks to raise the tax on cigarettes in Hawaii to $2 per pack over two years.Last session, lawmakers increased taxes on cigarettes and liquor as a means of increasing revenues to balance the state budget.
This year, lawmakers say their goal is to discourage smoking by increasing the cost.
"This strategy has been effectively used in other states," Dennis Arakaki (D, Alewa Heights-Kalihi) said in House floor debate Tuesday.
A measure working its way through the House would increase the current tax of $1.20 per pack -- already among the highest in the nation -- to $1.60 per pack on July 1.
The tax would increase to $1.80 per pack -- or 9 cents per cigarette -- on July 1, 2004, and finally to $2 per pack by July 1, 2005.
Arakaki, chairman of the House Health Committee, said studies have shown that increasing the cost of cigarettes effectively deters smoking.
2 men are OK after gravel crushes pickup
WAILUKU >> Two men in a pickup truck escaped serious injury Tuesday morning when the trailer of a truck tipped to its side, dumping tons of gravel onto their cab, Maui police said.Fire rescue crews, who responded to the 9:25 a.m. emergency, had to cut through the roof of the pickup truck to extract the men at Uaoa Bridge, said Assistant Fire Chief Gordon Cordeiro.
Cordeiro estimated the trailer carried about 24 tons of gravel. The pickup truck was crushed, but the men were speaking and "appeared to be in good condition," he said.
The men were driving by at a bridge construction site along Hana Highway when the accident occurred, he said.
The men were taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center for examination.
They were released after treatment.
Castle & Cooke sponsors Sunset on the Beach
Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii Inc. will sponsor the Sunset on the Beach this Presidents Day weekend at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki.On Saturday and Sunday, food booths will open at 4 p.m. Food and beverages from Willows Restaurant, Ba-Le French Sandwich & Restaurant, Leo's Greek Taverna, Express Foods, Pizza Hut, Royal Hawaiian Hot Dog, Popcorn Express, Dell's Lemonade, the Nutty Hawaiian and Beach House Beverage Cart will be available.
Live entertainment will begin at 4:30 p.m. with Chaos and the deejays from 1043 XME on Saturday, and Cerro Negro and the crew from FM100 on Sunday. The box office hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" will be featured Saturday at 7 p.m. "The Bourne Identity," starring Matt Damon, will be shown Sunday evening.
For more information, contact 523-CITY or the Waikiki Improvement Association at 923-1094.
[TAKING NOTICE]
Officers
>> Dr. Ruth Ono, who recently retired as vice president of Queen's Health Systems after 50 years of service, has been named honorary chairwoman of the American Diabetes Association Hawaii's 2002-2003 Advisory Board.Judy Goo, president of D&J Specialties, is working chairwoman of the board, which helps to implement strategies to raise awareness of diabetes in Hawaii.
>> Mina Humphreys has been elected president of the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation. Other officers include Diane T. Ono, president-elect; Dr. John L. Lederer, secretary; and Aileen Utterdyke, treasurer. Dr. Robert W. Wilkinson, former president, is president emeritus.
Members of the board of directors also include state Rep. Dennis Arakaki, Laura B. Bonilla, Eileen Broms, Michael S.F. Chun, Susan Emley, Kathleen Hanai-Lee, Carol Kotsubo, Jan Michaels, Jan Nagahiro, Mary O'Brien, Lei Ohama Rol, Mendel I. Sato and Drake Tanabe.
>> The American Civil Liberties Union has elected Pamela Lichty, president; Patrick Taomae, vice president; Rick Schneider, secretary; Pat Hammers, treasurer; Heather Conahan, at-large; and Mary Steiner, national board member representative.
Elected members include Carl Ackerman, George Atkins, Roger Fonseca, Jeffrey Hong, Sheryl Nicholson and A. Joris Watland.
Grants
>> River of Life Mission has received a $100,000 grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.|
>> An item in "TheBuzz" column on Page C1 last Thursday said incorrectly that "The Magic of Polynesia" show was owned by Cove Entertainment Inc. The show was established by Roy Tokujo, of Cove Entertainment, and Robert Iwamoto Jr., chairman and chief executive of Roberts Hawaii. Tokujo's interest in the show was purchased by Iwamoto several years ago. 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
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Canadian premier hit with more charges
WAILUKU >> Additional charges have been filed against British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell in connection with his drunk driving arrest on Maui last month.The charges, which are violations and carry no criminal penalties, include speeding, failure to drive on the right side of the road and disregard of traffic markers.
Maui County Prosecutor Davelynn Tengan said the violations carry $400 in fines.
Campbell, who has publicly apologized for his conduct and said he will not contest the case, was arrested on a drunk driving charge on Jan. 10 after attending a dinner party in west Maui.
His arraignment is scheduled for March 25 in Wailuku District Court.
Nonresidents arrested for drunken driving are subject to the same procedures and penalties as Hawaii residents arrested on the petty misdemeanor charge. They can arrange to enter a no-contest or guilty plea by mail, usually through an attorney licensed to practice in Hawaii.
Big Isle brush fire partially contained
HILO >> A brush and forest fire west of lava-flow fields in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been partially contained and held to a total of 1,980 acres, park officials said yesterday.The most dangerous part of the fire, the western edge that pushed forward for several days, was contained by water drops from two helicopters yesterday, said fire management officer Jack Minassian. The fire continued to burn, but less vigorously, on its uphill side, he said.
"I'm not going to call it contained or controlled, but things are looking optimistic," he said.
Two crews of 20 people each arrived from the mainland Tuesday and went to work, Minassian said.
While removing vegetation from "scratch lines" to cut off the advance of the flames, the large areas already burned now serve as places to where crews can retreat if things get out of hand, he said.
Mopping up the remains of the fire will take weeks, he said.
OAHU
Police seek convict for parole violation
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department want the public's assistance in locating Wayne Takahashi Uehara.
Police said Uehara has six felony drug convictions and is wanted for a parole violation warrant.
They also believe Uehara may be armed with a handgun.
Police said Uehara may be operating a motorcycle and frequents the Waikiki area. Uehara, 39, is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a slim build, black hair, brown eyes and a mustache and beard.
Police also said Uehara has tattoos on both arms and his back.
Anyone with information about Uehara's whereabouts is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a wireless phone.
