O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Reapportioning plan proposed
A presentation on the reapportionment boundaries for political districts will be given at the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Campbell Estate Building, Laulima Room.
The state Reapportionment Commission is appointed every 10 years to redraw the boundaries of House and Senate districts and equalize the districts' populations, using numbers from the latest Census.
The population growth in Leeward and Central O'ahu over the past decade required the commission to eliminate two districts in Honolulu and Windward O'ahu. The commission has proposed that new House districts be created in Waipahu and 'Ewa Beach.
Building names to be discussed
A second public meeting to discuss renaming three University of Hawai'i landmarks after the state's Hall of Fame baseball coach, a former UH regent and a couple dedicated to education will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Campus Center Ballroom.
UH President Evan Dobelle has proposed renaming the Center for Hawaiian Studies for former regent Gladys Kamakakualani Ainoa Brandt; Rainbow Stadium after former baseball coach Les Murakami; and either the Social Sciences Building or the Student Services Center of Hawai'i Hall after Marion and Allan Saunders.
Allan Saunders played a key role in developing the Hawai'i Constitution and the state's Code of Ethics. He was dean of arts and sciences and founded the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i and the League of Women Voters. His wife, Marion, was the director of the precursor to the women's studies department and was the coordinator of programs for Micronesian students in Hawai'i.
The proposal will go to the Board of Regents at its Oct. 19 meeting in Hilo.
EAST HONOLULU
24-hour road work favored
Residents in 'Aina Haina and Kuli'ou'ou prefer a 24-hour work schedule on Kalaniana'ole Highway, according to a survey conducted by the Neighborhood Board.
The nine-question survey, mailed to 5,586 residents in the area, had only a 9.4 percent response rate.
Here are some results:
- 60 percent favored increasing the capacity of the left-turn lanes;
- 87 percent wanted work to be done around the clock, during nonpeak hours;
- 50 percent said they favored giving contractors bonuses for finishing projects early;
- Only 6 percent favored fees to access hiking trails and beaches; 83 percent said no.
WINDWARD
HECO to use helicopters
Starting today, Hawaiian Electric Co. will use a helicopter to transport construction materials to locations in Maunawili, Waimanalo and Hawai'i Kai that are difficult to access from the ground.
Crews will be doing maintenance and replacing wooden poles.
Helicopter flights will begin at about 8:30 a.m. and continue through about 3 p.m. Work will continue through Friday.
Thieves steal bronze statues
Honolulu police need help in solving a series of thefts in the East Honolulu and Diamond Head communities.
Since Aug. 11, police said there have been seven thefts of statues from lawns. Many different types of items have been taken, but a common factor is most were made of bronze, police said.
The value of the items is estimated at $20,000. Recycling centers, landscaping businesses, antique shops and pawn shops should be on alert.
Anyone with information on these thefts is asked to call Detective Howard Ishida at 529-3035, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
