Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Inouye ready to return to work after surgery
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is to be discharged from Walter Reed Army Medical Center tomorrow, less than a week after undergoing surgery to partially replace his left shoulder, the Hawaii Democrat's office said yesterday.Inouye's doctors say they are pleased with how quickly the senator has recovered from Monday's operation, his office said in a statement. Doctors had initially said Inouye could have been in the hospital for up to two weeks after the surgery.
"I will be back at my desk on Tuesday, when the Senate reconvenes after its weeklong recess," Inouye said in the statement. "At this stage, it will be light duty, such as attending committee hearings, and, under special circumstances, presiding over hearings."
Inouye, 79, Hawaii's senior member of Congress, lost his right arm during combat in World War II as a member of the mostly Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor.
Big Isle set to discuss park concessionaires
KAILUA-KONA >> Public hearings on possibly allowing concessionaires to operate cabins and camping at three Big Island state parks were approved yesterday by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.The state Parks Division doesn't have enough money to run its parks properly, a staff report said.
The hope is that concessionaires at Hapuna in West Hawaii, Mauna Kea State Recreation Area in the Saddle Road area, and MacKenzie south of Hilo would be able to do so while freeing state money for other park uses.
No date was set for the hearings.
The Land Board also approved granting a 19-month time extension for the Hawaii Electric Light Co. to complete its 56-megawatt power plant at Keahole, North Kona.
Raw sewage discharged into Hawaii Kai marina
A computer malfunction caused about 22,000 gallons of raw sewage to discharge into Kuapa Pond in Hawaii Kai yesterday, said Hawaii-American Water Co.About 1:30 p.m., sewage was discharged for about 15 minutes into the marina beneath the bridge near Lunalilo Home road and Hawaii Kai Drive, said the private waste-water treatment company that serves the area.
The water was tested, and Hawaii-American Water said the water north of the Wailua Street bridge may be contaminated.
Residents in the area are asked by the company to avoid swimming or water-skiing in the area until the company receives test results.
[ BRIEFLY ]
First meeting set for illegal-dumping group
The organizational meeting of a new Oahu coalition to fight illegal dumping will be held Monday at city offices in Kapolei."Illegal dumping of any kind is simply intolerable in our community, especially when you consider the range of refuse collection services available on our island," Mayor Jeremy Harris said Thursday in announcing the coalition's formation.
The one-hour meeting will start at 6 p.m. at 1000 Uluohia St. For more information, visit www.opala.org or call 692-5410.
Members of the forming coalition will be asked to attend a daylong workshop, "Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Getting People to Do the Right Thing," on Oct. 27 by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, an expert in community-based social marketing. He also will lead a half-day session on illegal dumping on Oct. 28 for coalition members.
Community coalition planning 'ice' summit
The state's largest treatment center, Hina Mauka, and a coalition of community and religious organizations are planning to have a "people's ice summit.""We want to get as many people involved and heard on this problem as possible," said Maurice "Andy" Anderson, Hina Mauka's chief executive.
Hina Mauka has been involved with some of the ant-ice sign-waving demonstrations held in several communities over the past few months. Others involved in those sign-wavings who are also planning for the "people's ice summit" include Community Workers in 96744 and Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii.
He said the "people's summit" is not meant to compete but to supplement efforts such as the Lingle administration's recent drug summit and the Joint House-Senate Task Force on Ice and Drug Abatement.
Free lecture to discuss role of United Nations
Honolulu Hale will host a free lecture on the role of the United Nations, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 27.Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Los Angeles' consul general of the Republic of Austria, will discuss the influence of the United Nations and whether its role will change in the future.
The talk is also sponsored by the United Nations Association-Hawaii. For more information, call UNA-HI President Joanne Tachibana at 487-8148 or e-mail her at jtachibana@unahawaii.org.
Church starts fund to aid family after fire
The Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ has established a fund to aid the family of the Rev. Kaleo Patterson, whose home was destroyed by fire in mid-September.Anyone who wishes to contribute to the Patterson Family Fund should note this on the check or on an attached note. Send the checks to the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ, 15 Craigside Place, Honolulu 96817.
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
ACADEMIC AWARDS
>> The Pearl Harbor Masonic Lodge sponsored three state Department of Education teachers to attend this year's weeklong seminar on anti-terrorism, presented by Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pa. They were Sandra Yamanouchi of Kawananakoa Middle School, Debra Lei Taniguchi-Char of Kahuku Intermediate and High School, and Raydeen Graffam, an assistant education specialist for the Hawaii State Judiciary History Center and Museum.>> The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low-Income Women and Children has given two of five Education Support Awards worth $2,000 each to Hawaii residents Edna Lokelani Iaea of Maui Community College's Molokai Education Center and Raquel Ipo Toribio of the Hawaii Pacific University Nursing Program.
The program is the first project memorializing the late congresswoman.
COURTESY PHOTO
Sandra Yamanouchi, left, Debra Lei Taniguchi-Char and Raydeen Graffam attended an anti-terrorism seminar.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWINDWARD OAHU
Police said 17 postal vehicles at the Kaneohe Post Office were vandalized with spray paint sometime between 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday. Damages are more than $1,500.
17 postal vehicles vandalized in KaneoheThe vehicles were located in a secured back parking lot of the post office located at 46-036 Kamehameha Highway, police said.
Police said the vehicles were marked with random strokes and no legible signs or signatures were found.
No suspects have been found.
HONOLULU
Police are investigating the death of a 7-week-old Salt Lake boy whose father said slipped from his grasp and fell head first on the floor of their apartment.
7-week-old boy's death prompts investigationIt happened about 2:15 a.m. yesterday. The boy's 34-year-old father called 911 and began cardiopulmondary resuscitation.
The boy was taken to Kaiser Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The case has been classified an unattended death pending further investigation.
[ COURTS ]
Wielder of 'pen gun' faces federal charges
A man was charged yesterday with federal firearm offenses after being arrested Wednesday with a "pen gun," according to Honolulu police.According to a federal affidavit, Ronnie D. Coleman was spotted by Ala Moana Center security in the parking lot, where he was believed to have been trying to break into cars on Wednesday. The affidavit did not give Coleman's age or his address.
When Coleman spotted security, he fled on foot to Ala Moana Beach Park where he was arrested by a police officer, according to the affidavit.
A search of Coleman's pockets found what police referred to as an "loaded improvised firearm" shaped like a pen, police said. The pen gun contained one round of .45 caliber ammunition.
Coleman was charged yesterday with three federal firearms charges including being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Isle attorney receives 2003 Justice Award
A Hawaii attorney is the recipient of the 2003 Justice Award, which recognizes a lifetime dedication to the courts.Lawrence Okinaga will be presented with the American Judicature Society's award on Nov. 10.
Previous Justice Award recipients include former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark, former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger and former Notre Dame University President Theodore Hesburgh.
Okinaga is the president of the society and chair of Hawaii's Judicial Selection Commission. He is a partner in the law firm Carlsmith Ball and a graduate of the University of Hawaii and Georgetown University.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
