Symphony to honor teacher Masaki

The Honolulu Symphony will perform a musical tribute to Ellen Yasuko Masaki at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall.

Masaki, 81, of Honolulu, an acclaimed piano teacher, died Sept. 7 in Honolulu.

Services will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Central Union Church. Call after 4 p.m. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Ethics probe of Amemiya called off

The city Ethics Commission closed its investigation into a conflict of interest complaint against Keith Amemiya, who served as vice chairman of the Honolulu Police Commission.

Amemiya's resignation as a police commissioner two weeks ago removed any conflict of interest that could have existed, said Chuck Totto, Ethics Commission executive director.

The Ethics Commission opened an investigation after receiving a complaint that Amemiya may have had a conflict of interest when, in his role as executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, he accepted a $30,000 donation to the Save Our Sports fund from the police union — State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

Amemiya resigned from the Police Commission, which removed any possible conflict of interest between his role as a police commissioner and his position as HHSAA executive director.

Amemiya issued a written statement saying, “;We're appreciative of the fact that the Ethics Commission's executive director has quickly ruled on this matter, as his decision should effectively end any further unnecessary distractions for the Police Commission and the SOS fundraising campaign.”;

However, Totto said the Ethics Commission was unable to determine whether there was a conflict since commission officials decided not to use its limited resources to pursue its investigation because the resignation rendered it moot.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kauai County staff recycling graded high

More than 55 percent of Kauai County employees have collection systems next to their desks to recycle mixed paper, which are then emptied into a central repository, according to an assessment by the county's recycling office.

The assessment, released this week, said 76 percent of county offices collect and recycle mixed paper, while 80 percent of the offices have newspaper recycling bins.

The county reported yesterday that it recycled 15,504 pounds of newspaper and 56,160 pounds of mixed paper last year, an effort that saved the equivalent of 47 cubic yards of space in the Kekaha Landfill.

When the assessment was conducted, about half of the county offices had HI-5 recycling bins. Those that did not have a bin were later supplied with one, the county said.

Most of the HI-5 redemption money generated by the employees is used for office parties and snacks, while some is donated to charity.