Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
ACLU sues city over alleged religious event
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is suing the city a second time for sponsoring what the group calls a religious event at a city park.The ACLU filed suit late yesterday in U.S. District Court alleging that the city's sponsorship of the Hawaii Christian Coalition's Family Day today at Aala Park violated the Constitution and the principle of separation of church and state.
But Garret Hashimoto, state chairman of the Hawaii Christian Coalition, said the Family Day gathering is sponsored by Family Day Outreach International, a group supporting youths and family values through ethnic, cultural and community affairs.
Hashimoto said the only major tie between the two organizations is that he is leader of both boards.
A city spokesman was not available for comment.
The ACLU reacted yesterday after seeing the Family Day event on the coalition's Web site, said Susan Dorsey, the ACLU's interim legal director.
Last July, the ACLU sued the city for using $15,000 to fund a "city-sponsored church service" called the Family Day Festival on July 5 at Kapiolani Park. That case is pending in federal court.
"For them to again do this is outrageous," Dorsey said.
The city is sponsoring a de facto religious event, she said. The Web page about today's Family Day event has the same logo as July's event and directs people to call the Hawaii Christian Coalition for information.
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the Web site.
HPD names new homicide lieutenant
Lt. David Kamai has been named the Honolulu Police Department's homicide lieutenant effective Monday, said Criminal Investigation Division Maj. Mark Nakagawa.Kamai will also oversee the missing-persons detail and the career criminal unit, which fall under homicide.
Kamai replaces Lt. Bill Kato, who was demoted Feb. 1 to sergeant for six months and reassigned to the Central Receiving Division.
Kamai moved over from the family violence detail.
The 23-year HPD veteran has 13 years' experience in narcotics investigations.
Detective Clifford Rubio had been acting homicide lieutenant.
According to sources, Kato was penalized for not taking the proper steps to ensure a successful mission during the March 4 arrest of fugitive Shane Mark. Mark shot and killed police officer Glen Gaspar during the arrest.
Gaspar and the other undercover officers did not wear bulletproof vests.
The police union is filing grievances on behalf of Kato and the other three officers.
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
>> The Aloha United Way has received a gift of $28,980 in interest income from an endowment created by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to help the homeless, the elderly and low-income, at-risk youth.
>> The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii has given $15,000 to the Pacific Arts Foundation to duplicate and distribute videos of the documentary film "ICE: Hawaii's Crystal Meth Epidemic" to health care and community organizations on Oahu. The funds will also be used to produce a viewers guide for teachers and support production of a companion video for children.
>> The Aloha United Way has received a $100,000 grant from the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation to start a "Small Business/Big Heart" initiative to increase fund raising among small businesses and help them get more involved in their communities.
>> Aloha Harvest was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Mary D. and Walter F. Frear Eleemosynary Trust to hire a part-time food resource coordinator. The nonprofit works in partnership with food distributors to deliver donate perishable food for Hawaii's hungry.
>> The Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center has received $299,989 in funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Legal Assistance for Victims Program to provide legal services for indigent, abused immigrant victims on Oahu and the Big Island.
>> Winners at Work has received a $10,000 grant from the Public Health Fund Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii in support of its new Community Integration Project in Kahuku and the North Shore. The project will provide employment and community-access services for people with disabilities, including special-education students.
>> The Public Relations Society of America, Hawaii Chapter, has elected Duke Gonzales, of Shriners Hospital for Children, its president; Amy Hennessey, of McNeil Wilson Communications, vice president; Carolyn D.C. Fujioka, of State Farm Insurance Cos., secretary; and Nancy Daniels, of the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts/OHANA Hotels & Resorts, treasurer. Donda Spiker, of Kuakini Health systems, is the immediate past president and accreditation chairwoman.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWEST OAHU
Ten parolees were arrested yesterday during early morning "no notice" drug and alcohol testing at a halfway house in Waipahu, the Hawaii Paroling Authority said.
10 parolees arrested after surprise drug testThe testing was ordered at Victory Ohana after the agency received information that some parolees were using illegal drugs and allegedly bringing drugs onto the premises, authority administrator Tommy Johnson said.
Six parolees were arrested for testing positive for drugs. The remaining four were arrested for self-admitted drug use, not providing a timely urine sample or violating parole terms and conditions.
Parole officers conducted the tests, and the arrests were made by deputy sheriffs from the state Department of Public Safety. Investigators from the attorney general's office were also on hand.
The operation was carried out "with the consent of the Victory Ohana program director and was done in the best interests of public safety," Public Safety Director John Peyton said.
In all, 48 parolees live at Victory Ohana, which also houses people on probation and others from the community.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
WAILUKU >> Maui police have completed their investigation but still do not know what caused a fire that led to more than $1 million in damage to the warehouse and contents of Standard Furniture & Appliance Inc. earlier this month, said Acting Lt. George Kronoski.
Maui warehouse fire's cause is still unknownFirefighters took more than two hours to control the blaze after the alarm at 12:39 a.m. on Feb. 3.
The furniture store's display room, across the street from the warehouse, was untouched by the fire and continues to be open for business.
The warehouse was insured for fire damage, said a member of the family who has owned the business since 1964.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
