Posted on: Friday, December 3, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Asing to head Kaua'i council again
Advertiser Staff
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Veteran County Councilman Bill "Kaipo" Asing was picked by fellow members to repeat as chairman for the coming two-year term, with James Kunane Tokioka as vice chairman.
While the county government is technically nonpartisan, their selections represent bipartisan leadership, since Asing is a longtime Democrat and Tokioka a Republican.
Council members were inaugurated Wednesday.
Six members of the seven-member council were re-elected, with attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho replacing Maurice "Joe" Munechika. Iseri-Carvalho was named head of the Community Assistance Committee.
The Finance/Intergovernmental Affairs is chaired by Daryl Kaneshiro; Economic Development by Jay Furfaro; Energy and Public Safety by Mel Rapozo; Parks and Public Works by Tokioka; and Planning by Jo Ann Yukimura.
BIG ISLAND
Three arrested for illegal drugs
KOKOIKI, Hawai'i — Patrol officers arrested three suspects after observing an apparent drug transaction Sunday in Kokoiki, North Kohala.
Police searched a sedan spotted in an area known to be frequented by crystal methamphetamine dealers and found a plastic packet containing the drug. Officers also found in a backpack more than 5 grams of a crystal substance, more than a gram of marijuana, and items used to package illegal drugs.
The suspects, two men ages 36 and 29, and a 25-year-old woman, were released while the investigation continues.
Illegal drug activity can be reported to the West Hawai'i Ice Hotline at (808) 329-ZERO-ICE (329-0423).
WAHIAWA
Santa parade tomorrow
The annual Santa Claus Parade in Wahiawa will be held tomorrow, starting at 6:30 p.m. from Ka'ala Elementary School. The parade will travel up California Avenue, turn left onto North Cane Street and left onto Center Street near Wahiawa Town Center.
HONOLULU
City paramedics get new chief
Robin McCulloch, who has served as division chief for the city's Emergency Medical Services Division since 1990, retired Nov. 30 and has been replaced by Patricia J. Dukes.
McCulloch joined the department in 1978 as a paramedic and has overseen major improvements in the department during his tenure.
He established the Computer Aided Dispatch System and Automatic Vehicle Locators in ambulances to provide 911 callers with rapid responses; expanded services to include four additional ambulances and two rapid response paramedic vans; and elevated the city's role in Homeland Security with the creation of the Metropolitan Medical Response System.
"Robin has been an invaluable leader in helping to provide our community cutting-edge emergency services that are among the best in the country," said Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Dukes was a Mobile Emergency Care Specialist prior to her promotion.
Other promotions announced yesterday include new EMS district chiefs: Robert Pedro, Wayne Kruse, Derrick Young, Dean Nakano, Patricia Jones, Jason Kaneshiro, Norman Hahn and Jacob Ho'opai.
New unit supervisors are: Mark Rigg, Chester Sukekane, Anthony Young, Arnold Paragoso, Jane Greenwood, Mary Carlson and Lorrin Okumura.
Tree topping at Honolulu Hale
Anyone who wants a peek at the new City Lights Christmas tree splendor should drop by Honolulu Hale today at 11 a.m. for the annual Tree Topping Ceremony. Managing Director Ben Lee will be in charge of the festivities.
STATEWIDE
300 gift baskets going to neediest
More than 300 holiday gift baskets put together by girl scouts from all over Hawai'i will be delivered to some of the neediest families today.
The project, started in 1995 by a Brownie troop, will provide gifts to clients of Child and Family Services.
Girl Scout Troop leader Rayna Galati headed the effort and 1,800 Girl Scouts helped make the gift baskets.
WorldWide Movers will donate its vans to move the baskets from Girl Scout Hale in Nu'uanu to the Child and family Service offices on Fort Weaver Road and on Vineyard Boulevard.
HAWAI'I KAI
Board will not support rezoning
The Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board voted unanimously Tuesday night not to support a developer's proposal to re-zone a small piece of land in Kalama Valley to make way for more homes.
The developer of Koko Villas is seeking the support of the community to build 11 homes on 3.2-acres on Kealahou Street and would be an extension to the Koko Villa project being developed by Phillip Ho, said Don Clegg, a consultant who represents Ho.
Preservation-zoned land allows farming, zoos, amusement and recreation facilities such as indoor arcades, cemeteries, golf courses, hospitals, prisons and universities and colleges.
MANOA
Grant-writing workshop offered
A three-day professional grant proposal writing workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 through 8 at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Campus Center, executive dining room.
Titled "Grants 101," the course is designed for both beginning and experienced writers and includes the basic components of a grant proposal, successful approaches and the do's and don'ts of grant writing.
Tuition is $597.
For more information call 888-824-4424 or visit The Grant Institute Web site at www.thegrantinstitute.com. Ethnic studies head gives talk
The Centers for Philippine and Southeast Asian Studies will present a talk by Dean Alegado, chairman of ethnic studies, titled "The Filipino Diaspora: Efforts of the Philippine State to Reinscribe Overseas Filipinos Back To the Nation," noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Moore Hall, Tokioka Room.
Alegado has a Ph.D. in political science. His research focuses on labor migration from the Philippines and the emergence of the Filipino transnational communities.
The public is welcome. For disability access or further information call 956-2688 or 956-6086.
