Advertiser Staff
Chevron to pay $800,000 in settlement
Chevron USA will pay $800,000 in a settlement of federal Clean Air Act violations at its Hawai‘i facilities in Hilo, Kahului and Campbell Industrial Park.
The Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco yesterday announced the petroleum company has agreed to pay a fine of $650,000 and spend at least $150,000 to reduce pollutant emissions at its Port Allen bulk gasoline terminal on Kaua‘i.
The firm was cited for failing to install air pollution controls at its Hilo and Kahului bulk gasoline terminals and failing to inspect and properly report equipment leaks and other problems at its Campbell Industrial Park oil refinery.
Barber charged in tax case
LIHU‘E, Kaua‘i — The state tax office has filed a criminal complaint against Lihu‘e barber Harry Ikeda for running a business without a general excise tax license and failing to file excise tax returns for 1998 and 1999.
Ikeda says he does not believe that, as an individual, he owes the taxes.
"I’m just trying to see where the laws are. If I’m wrong, I’ll pay," he said.
He referred further questions to his sister, restaurateur Barbara Oki, who said they believe that under state and federal laws, a person’s earned income is exempt from taxation.
"The fruits of your labor is protected. It is yours," she said.
Ikeda is to appear in District Court on March 6 to answer the state charges.
It is the first such tax case on Kaua‘i in recent years. Tax director Marie Okamura said the tax office normally does not initiate a criminal investigation if taxpayers voluntarily report failure to file.
Kaua‘i lawyer named judge
LIHU‘E, Kaua‘i — Attorney Trudy K. Senda has been appointed a judge in the District Court of the 5th Circuit on Kaua‘i.
She will fill the vacancy left by Clifford L. Nakea, who was elevated in September to the 5th Circuit Court. Senda has been with the law firm of Randal Valenciano since 1996 and previously was in private practice on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu. She is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i’s William S. Richardson School of Law.
Bribe suspected in driver’s licensing
KAILUA-KONA, Hawai‘i — Big Island police are investigating a possible bribery case involving two driver’s license examiners in Kona.
The investigation was started after an audit found discrepancies in the issuance of driver’s licenses, said Maj. Charles Chai of the Hawai‘i County Police Department. The audit was prompted when a Kona police officer learned that licenses allegedly were being issued without following proper procedures, he said.
No arrests have been made. One of the employees was placed on leave in December and the other in January. Officials had no additional comment.
Hospital marks Heart Month
WAILUKU, Maui — The Health Promotion Hui will hold a free "Healthy Heart" event from 9 to 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at Maui Memorial Medical Center to mark Heart Month.
Doctors will speak on the risk factors of heart disease, the Wai‘anae Diet and other topics in the hospital auditorium, and Clinical Laboratories of Hawai‘i will provide free cholesterol screenings. Refreshments will be served.
Also tomorrow the hospital’s new magnetic resonance imaging facility will hold an open house from 8 a.m. to noon.
The hui is a partnership of nonprofit groups, including Maui Memorial.
Maui to celebrate Whale Day
KIHEI, Maui — The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Whale Day Celebration tomorrow at Kalama Park is a fund-raiser for marine education programs for Maui schoolchildren.
The event begins at 9 a.m. with a parade down South Kihei Road and runs through 6 p.m. Admission is free.
There will be live entertainment, food, a craft fair, silent auction and displays by Maui nonprofit organizations and environmentally oriented businesses. For kids, a Keiki Whale-a-thon obstacle course will open at 10, with prizes for the first 150 to sign up, and a Keiki Carnival will feature face painting, games and a bouncing castle.
Free parking is available at Kihei Kalama Village. Additional parking is available at Azeka Place Shopping Center, with a free shuttle provided by Maui Tours and Transportation.
For more information, call the Pacific Whale Foundation at (808) 879-8860, or check the Web site at www.pacificwhale.org
Expert to discuss aquaculture
WAIMEA, Hawai‘i — Aquaculture specialist Jim Szyper will speak from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Thelma Parker Memorial Library.
Szyper is with the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant Extension Service’s Aquaculture Development Program. He will discuss projects on the Big Island and how to get started in aquaculture.
For more information, call (808) 329-2861.
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