Staradvertiser Headlines

Ratings gold

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

With a massive explosion at police headquarters, a few murders and a lot of mayhem in the streets of Honolulu, the CBS drama "Hawaii Five-0" ended its second season Monday, and by the time the smoke cleared, it had a ratings victory.

Legal test notes right of Native Hawaiians

Ken Kobayashi — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

In a 3-2 ruling the Hawaii Supreme Court has upheld the petty misdemeanor conviction of a man who contended that he was entitled as a Native Hawaiian practitioner to live in a closed area of a state park in Kalalau Valley on Kauai.

More public school grads opt for college

Mary Vorsino — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

About 53 percent of Hawaii's 2011 public school graduates went on to two- or four-year colleges, up 3 percentage points from the year before.

'Big stinky' mars the air

Dan Nakaso — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

On Tuesday, Foster Botanical Garden's "corpse flower" — for the first time since it was planted a decade ago — began smelling "like a dead cat."

New F-22 rules leave Guard in holding pattern

William Cole — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The Hawaii Air National Guard was waiting on orders Tuesday to see whether its F-22 Raptor fighters would be affected after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta imposed new flight restrictions — the latest setback for the costly and controversial jet.

War veterans PAC endorses Gabbard's run for Congress

B.J. Reyes — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

A progressive veterans political action committee that seeks to elect Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans to Congress has committed $75,000 for ads in Hawaii supporting Tulsi Gabbard in her bid for the 2nd Congressional District.

Retired firefighters back Cayetano for mayor; electricians like Caldwell

B.J. Reyes — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The 800-member Honolulu Fire Department Retirees Association has endorsed former Gov. Ben Cayetano in the race for Honolulu mayor, while campaign rival Kirk Caldwell picked up another union endorsement.

Waipahu mother of 3 missing since Sunday

Leila Fujimori — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The family of a 39-year-old single mother of three young boys who vanished on Mother’s Day says her disappearance is uncharacteristic because she is dependable.

Public Safety officials sued for denying inmates’ nuptials

Nelson Daranciang — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Four women who want to marry men who are state prison inmates are suing state Public Safety Director Jodie Maesaka-Hirata and two other Public Safety officials for repeatedly denying their fiances’ marriage applications.

Hawaii island man denies killing wife

Leila Fujimori — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

A retired Los Angeles police detective pleaded not guilty in Kona Circuit Court on Tuesday to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of his wife in 2006.

School bus route study forecast to take weeks

Mary Vorsino — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The state says it hopes to know by early June which school bus routes will likely have to be cut in the coming school year to cover a $16 million shortfall for student transportation.

Wadsworth Y.H. Yee: Republican leader developed real estate but lobbied to keep park space

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Wadsworth Y.H. Yee, a former Republican state senator and one of the founders of Grand Pacific Life Insurance Co., died May 8. He was 90.

Volcanic Ash: Vote highlights Democrats' stranglehold on isle politics

David Shapiro — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The Legislature's last-minute passage of Senate Bill 2785, creating the regulatory framework for an undersea electric cable between the islands, illustrated a capricious process that denies citizens a fair shake on bills that fundamentally affect their lives.

Newswatch

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Bail set at $1M for drug suspect • Maui High lauded for video

Police and Fire

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Puna man charged in shooting and threats

Corrections and Clarifications

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Ed Lynch, managing editor/news, at 529-4758.

Girl's tip helps police find woman

Leila Fujimori — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The insistence of a precocious 8-year-old McCully girl, known for helping others, helped find an 83-year-old Moiliili woman with Alzheimer's disease who had been missing for four days.

Rites honor HPD officers killed on duty

Gary T. Kubota — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

With bagpipers and motorcycle officers leading the way, more than 200 police officers, their supporters and dignitaries marched down Beretania Street from the main police station to the state Capitol on Monday to observe the start of Police Week 2012 and pay homage to those who died in the line of duty.

Police coverup alleged in bias lawsuit

Gordon Y.K. Pang — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

An attorney for three Honolulu Police Department officers who filed a federal lawsuit charging HPD with race and gender discrimination alleges that top-ranking HPD officers, city attorneys and the city Equal Opportunity Office conspired to cover up wrongdoing by officers.

Hawaiian monk seal births spur plea for peace and quiet

Rob Shikina — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Federal officials are asking the public to keep their distance from two newborn Hawaiian monk seals on Kauai for the safety of the pups — and onlookers.

Bottled-water firm to pay $2M fine

Gary T. Kubota — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

In the largest enforcement action against a bottled-water business in Hawaii, a firm that distills deep seawater has agreed to pay $2 million in a settlement with the state Department of Health.

Unscripted TV generates popular baby names

Star-Advertiser Staff and News Services — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Reality TV is giving birth to some of the most popular baby names. No, not Snooki. But Mason, as in Kourtney Kardashian's son, jumped 10 spots to become the second most popular name for newborn boys in 2011.

Ship with role in bin Laden mission due in today

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its air wing will arrive at Pearl Harbor today for a port visit after a 51⁄2-month deployment that included operations in the Persian Gulf and air missions over Afghanistan.

Man pleads guilty to abducting his 3 kids

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

BILLINGS, Mont. » In a case with a Hawaii connection, a Montana man who abducted his three children and took them to the Bahamas on a sailboat pleaded guilty Monday after reaching a deal with prosecutors that calls for a four-year prison term.

Incidental Lives: Businesswoman and activist finds herself atop coffee firm

Michael Tsai — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

As a teenager growing up in Seattle, Sheryl Nelson looked forward to volunteering at her local hospital.

Shining Stars

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Seagull Schools praised in capital • Pearl City girl to be kids' peace envoy

Newswatch

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Schofield soldier found dead in Afghanistan • Nominees named to fill 2 seats on courts • Suspect held in shooting of Hilo woman • Man charged with assault in Puna knifing

Police and Fire

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Man wanted in Chinatown bank robbery • Trio arrested in cockfight investigation • Woman and dog airlifted from Maui trail

New Brew

Allison Schaefers — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

What's the buzz in Kau? Coffee. Small-scale farmers in the rural Hawaii island district are growing and producing some of the world's best brews. Kau coffees are so good that a few weeks ago, three of them took top-10 spots in an international cupping contest.

Court could erase map of new state legislative boundaries

B.J. Reyes — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

With the primary election just three months away, preparations are nearly complete. The state Office of Elections has established voter precincts, and county clerks are assigning more than 600,000 registered voters to polling places, a process expected to wrap up by mid-June.

Principals offered $10K merit bonus

Mary Vorsino — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Principals who attain high ratings under a performance-evaluation pilot program in 82 schools this fall will be eligible for a one-time $10,000 bonus in what officials are calling the first experiment of a merit pay system for public school educators in the islands.

Broken water pipe floods closed hospital

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Fire Department personnel battled flooding Sunday at Honolulu Medical Center-East, where a broken pipe on the second floor sent water down to first floor and basement.

New bean serves to enliven region

Allison Schaefers — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

PAHALA, Hawaii » Kau coffee farmer Lorie Obra has prized roasted coffees flying off the shelf at $80 a pound.

Farms grow tourism as secondary industry

Allison Schaefers — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

KAU, HAWAII » Richard and Theresa Wiles live in Kona, Hawaii's coffee capital. But that didn't stop them from wanting to sample the internationally award-winning brews in Kau, so they took a weekend trip to Kalaekilohana, a luxury bed-and-breakfast in the town of Naalehu, population 866.

City sewer improvements could hold back projects 4 years

B.J. Reyes — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Construction of an assisted-living facility is on hold and other major projects from Halawa to Pearl City could be in limbo while the city works to improve sewer lines at two Central Oahu sites.

Educators honored for exemplary work

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Nimitz Elementary School Principal Kenneth Lee was named Hawaii's 2012 National Distinguished Principal last month, and the state Department of Education announced that Waiau Elementary School Vice Principal Stacey Makanoe Kawasaki has been selected as Hawaii's first recipient of the National Association of Elementary School Principals' Outstanding Assistant Principal Award.

Monk seals receive care after fishhook injuries

Rob Shikina — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Wildlife officials hope two Hawaiian monk seals that were nearly killed by large fishhooks can completely recover after the hooks were removed from their bodies last week. Meanwhile, officials are looking for a third monk seal whose health might be in danger because of a hooking.

Tahitian takes title of top fireknife dancer

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

After garnering a third-place and four second-place awards, Joseph Cadousteau finally took this year’s World Fireknife Championships title Saturday at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Ocean Watch: An app, e-books and a guide explicate marvels of the sea

Susan Scott — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

I have on my desk several new items of interest for marine animal fans. One is made of paper, and the others swim among the colorful reefs of my iPad.

Police and Fire

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Car crashes into gate, gate breaks gas line • Small blaze damages house in Kuliouou • Witnesses hold suspect in purse-snatching • Aiea men face drug charges after arrest; and more

Newswatch

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Bee-study bill reaches desk of governor • Bedroom blaze damages home in Fern Forest

Hawaii charges ahead in electric car popularity

Alan Yonan Jr. — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The rapid deployment of electric-vehicle charging stations across Hawaii is putting the state ahead of the curve in the "chicken and egg" dilemma that has slowed the acceptance of EVs in other markets.

School's limits leave kids behind

Susan Essoyan — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Hunter Villanueva, who will turn 5 in September, would be eligible to start school this fall in any regular public school in the state, but he will have to wait another year because the school that serves his district, Waialae Public Charter School, says it doesn't have room for him.

U.S. Senate hopeful Lingle calls for unity

B.J. Reyes — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Speaking of the need for bipartisanship on Capitol Hill and the need for Republican representation for Hawaii if both houses of Congress go to the GOP this fall, former Gov. Linda Lingle urged party faithful to support her campaign for the U.S. Senate and help overcome the Democratic Party's stronghold in the islands.

Kalaeloa suggested to house incoming Marines

William Cole — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

No sooner had plans been confirmed for 2,500 or more Marines coming to Hawaii from Japan than Honolulu resident Dennis Egge suggested how to accommodate them.

Events mark African-Americans' war service

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The local chapter of Tuskegee Airmen will participate in events this month honoring the service of African-Americans in World War II.

Waimea community helps select new principal of charter school

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

A new principal has been hired for Waimea Middle School to replace the one whose departure was abruptly announced in February, setting off a firestorm of protest from community members.

Pflueger can't block access to water and land, court rules

Ken Kobayashi — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The Hawaii Supreme Court has reinstated a court order prohibiting former auto dealer James Pflueger from cutting off water and interfering with an adjacent landowner's access to a home on a remote property on Kauai's northeast shore.

Lee Cataluna: Website aimed at Cayetano is not being very nice itself

Lee Cataluna — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

First off, a website that starts a petition to wag a scolding finger at a former governor, admonishing him to "be nice," is by its own definition of the term, not very nice.

Police and Fire

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Hiker rescued after emergency on trail • Woman found face down in bay is revived • Waipahu man charged in attack with car; and more

Obituaries

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Amante Q. Aurelio • Santiago Quiamas Cadaoas • Viola Kuwehu Bartels Pahia Choi • Gloria Del Rosario • Robert A. Distiso • Chiyoko Matsuda Kuwada Iwamoto • Robert Lee Keller • In Sup Kim and more

Obituaries

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Leona K.L. Au • Brian Robert Chang • Sharlene Pua Rose Chang • Raymond Chung • Michael H. Cochran • Robert A. Distiso • Masanori Hirayama • Tsutomu Hironaga • Norman Duke Kapuniai and more

New York Times: Neglected, rotting trees turn deadly

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

NEW YORK >> The sharp and sudden crack! broke the summer calm.

New York Times: Idahoan's unlikely journey to life as a Taliban prisoner

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

HAILEY, Idaho >> Off a gravel road in a horse pasture in the crystalline air of the Northern Rockies, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl grew up skiing, fencing and dancing the role of the Nutcracker in the nearby Sun Valley Ballet School — on the surface, at least, an unlikely recruit for the U.S. Army.

Obituaries

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

Lois Jeanne Acheson • Donna Jeanne Cecelia Akana • Angelesa Ganigan Arce; and more

Corrections and Clarifications

Star-Advertiser staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:17 +0400

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser strives to make its news report fair and accurate.