Camp re-elected as chairwoman of police panel

The Honolulu Police Commission unanimously re-elected Christine Camp as commission chairwoman.

The commission also elected Marc Tilker as vice chairman. That position was left vacant by Keith Amemiya, who resigned after an investigation was launched by the city Ethics Commission.

The Ethics Commission had received a complaint of a possible conflict of interest because the nonprofit organization of which Amemiya was director had received a $30,000 donation from the police union.

Camp had also come under fire when two names were added to a list of four finalists submitted by a police chief selection committee.

Camp told a City Council committee that the names were added to broaden the pool of candidates. A resolution asking for a delay in the selection of the new chief was withdrawn after Camp testified.

Pine to pay $1,000 in ethics case

State Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine has agreed to pay $1,000 to settle an ethics complaint stemming from an event last year at Campbell High School.

According to the agreement, released yesterday by the state Ethics Commission, Pine improperly used state facilities, employees and resources for a campaign activity.

Pine (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) said she had gone to the high school on Oct. 23, 2008, to discuss the election and political process with students and brought two campaign signs to use as props.

While there, Pine posed for pictures with teachers and students, one of whom used a school camera and later a school computer to e-mail the photos to Pine, the agreement stated.

Pine said the photos were taken “;for fun”; and that she did not know that state resources were used.

In a statement, Pine said the action was “;unintended,”; and she waived her right to contest the issue “;because I believe that it is important for Hawaii leaders to be held to the highest standard even when violations are not intentional.”;

No discussion about the election or politics took place, according to the commission.

UH-West Oahu ceremonies today

Commencement ceremonies are scheduled today for graduates of the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.

Doors to the Leeward Community College Theatre open at 5:45 p.m. to ticket holders invited to the graduation. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Latecomers and those without tickets may view the live ceremony from an outdoor screen. Graduates are expected to greet friends and family members outside of the theater at 7:30 p.m.

More than 100 graduates will receive degrees and certificates.

Nanakuli High and Intermediate School Principal and UH-West Oahu alumnus Darin Pilialoha will address the graduates.

Tracy Takazono will also speak on behalf of the graduating class. Takazono returned to college after a 10-year break and is a member of UH-West Oahu's inaugural graduating class of students earning a bachelor's in elementary education.

Contract awarded for child center

A nearly $16 million contract has been awarded for the design and construction of a new child development center at Pearl Harbor.

The Navy said yesterday that the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific decided to award the contract to RMA-ECC Joint Venture of Anaheim, Calif.

The new center will include training and activity rooms for young children, a playground, an administration building and a building for a kitchen, laundry and storage. It will also feature a parking area and driveway designed to provide a safe, covered drop-off and pickup area.

FAA reviews helicopter's rough landing

The wreckage of a helicopter remained on a remote East Maui pasture near the shoreline yesterday, a day after the aircraft made an emergency landing during a pilot proficiency check.

What is left of an Aerospatial AS350BA, operated by Sunshine Helicopters, is expected to be inspected on site and eventually moved to a hangar at Kahului Airport for further examination, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

Gregor said federal investigators also planned to review aircraft records and interview witnesses and those who were on board, including an FAA inspector who broke an ankle in the incident.

The helicopter landed at Wainapanapa near Hana at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The helicopter had unknown mechanical problems while the inspector was giving the pilot a routine annual proficiency check, Gregor said.