O'ahu briefs

Advertiser Staff

HONOLULU

Mirikitani fails to file taxes

Former Honolulu City Councilman Andy Mirikitani has acknowledged that he did not file state tax returns for three years, his attorney said yesterday.

Dawn Smith, who is handling Mirikitani's bankruptcy case, said Mirikitani did not file returns in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Smith said Mirikitani was required to file returns those years even though he was owed refunds.

Because he is owed money, Smith said, Mirikitani will not be penalized.

Smith said Mirikitani made no excuses for failing to file the returns. But she said her client had been going through difficult times since the March 1998 death of his companion Judy Weightman.

Mirikitani retired from the council in December after he was convicted of theft, bribery and related charges connected with a kickback scheme. He was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and will begin serving his term Thursday.

On Dec. 18, Mirikitani filed for bankruptcy, saying that he owed more than $1.3 million.

Mirikitani's new wife, Sharron Bynum, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for her role in the kickback scheme.

CENTRAL

Blood drive set for tomorrow

Zippy's Restaurants and Punahou School's Key Club are coordinating what may be the biggest blood drive for January at the Honolulu Country Club in Salt Lake this Saturday.

The blood drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at 1690 Ala Pu'umalu Street.

"January is State Volunteer Blood Donor Month, so we are hoping that the community will show their support and take a few minutes out of their day to potentially save a life," said Roger Higa of FCH Enterprises, which operates Zippy's.

Call Higa at 973-0880, Ext. 321, or the Blood Bank of Hawai'i at 845-9966.

EAST HONOLULU

Kaiser plans fund-raiser

The Kaiser High School Class of 2002 will hold a Cougar Bash fund-raiser from 6 to 9 p.m. next Friday at the school stadium to benefit Project Grad 2002, a parent-organized program that allows graduating seniors to celebrate in a chaperoned, safe environment free of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

For a $10 donation, participants will receive Outback Steakhouse dinners and admission to a concert given by two bands, including local recording artists Thick Tubes and Roots Rockers.

For information, call senior class counselor Aimee Funasaki from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 394-1211.