HAWAI'I BRIEFS
City confirms Schatz residence
Advertiser Staff
The city clerk has determined that state Rep. Brian Schatz, D-25th (Makiki, Tantalus), lives where he says he does — in a Makiki apartment in his district.
His Republican opponent, Tracy Okubo, has questioned whether Schatz lives in his district and was eligible to run for re-election. She noted that Schatz and his wife own a home in nearby St. Louis Heights, outside his district.
Denise DeCosta, the city clerk, told election officials Monday that the ruling was based on a review of available documents and an interview with the apartment's resident manager.
"This confirms that this was a smear by a desperate candidate who had no issues to run on," Schatz said.
Okubo said she brought the complaint after talking with people in the district.
"I wish they would look into it more in-depth," she said.
Mirikitani to be released on bail
Former Honolulu City Councilman Andy Mirikitani will be released from a Mainland prison, possibly by the end of the week, pending the outcome of an unrelated challenge to sentencing guidelines now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mirikitani was supposed to remain in prison for an additional 11 months, but U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor yesterday granted the release on $10,000 bail, said his court-appointed attorney, Georgia McMillen. Mirikitani is serving a 51-month sentence at a federal facility in Louisiana.
LEEWARD
HPD says new facility needed
Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa said yesterday that the department's Wai'anae substation is no longer cost-effective to maintain and that a new building must be built to meet community and police needs.
Correa said the building at 85-939 Farrington Highway is aging, too small and in a poor location. He said the building is in the middle of a flood plain and would have to be evacuated in the event of flooding or a hurricane.
He said he does not know how much a new substation would cost.
Correa also emphasized that he needs to wait to work with a new mayor, the City Council and other stakeholders to develop a new facility.
Lu'au to honor principal of year
Gail Awakuni of Campbell High, the 2005 national high school principal of the year, will be honored by the 'Ewa Beach Community Association at a testimonial lu'au Nov. 13 at the school's cafeteria.
Tickets are $15 per person and $250 per table of 10. Checks made payable to 'Ewa Beach Community Association should be mailed to P.O. Box 2003, 'Ewa Beach, HI, 96706.
The deadline for reservations is Friday. For information, call Jan Lehner 542-7411, Mary Serrao at 689-6798 or Dee White at 368-6206.
CENTRAL
Mililani center nearly finished
Work on Mililani's seventh and last recreation center is nearing completion, Castle & Cooke's Tony Gaston has told the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood Board.
The $3.9 million center on Lehiwa Drive across from Mililani Ike School is scheduled to open in February 2005. Gaston said there will be a heated 25-meter swimming pool and separate kiddie pool, multi-purpose room that can hold up to 300 people, a teen center and 83 parking stalls.
Pocket bikes banned in parks
The city's Parks Department has banned the use of "pocket bikes" at Central O'ahu Regional Park and the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.
"Pocket bikes," miniature motorcycles that can achieve speeds of 35 mph or more, are prohibited on public streets and on sidewalks. Signs at Central O'ahu Regional Park and Waipi'o Soccer Complex state that pocket bikes are prohibited at both sites, said city spokeswoman Carol Costa.
As to other city parks, Costa said signs will be posted on a "case by case" basis.
STATEWIDE
Haiku contest accepting entries
The Hawai'i Education Association is accepting haiku submissions for its 27th Annual International Haiku Contest through Nov. 15.
The haiku may be entered in three categories: season word, Hawai'i word and humorous. Prizes of $45, $35 and $25 will be offered in each category.
To receive a copy of contest rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: HEA International Haiku Contest, 1649 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96826.
'Olelo debate on House Dist. 27
Tonight's live one-hour political debate on 'Olelo Community Television's Channel 54 at 6:30 p.m. features the two candidates to represent House District 27 (Liliha, Pu'unui), Republican incumbent Corrine Ching and Democrat Stefanie Sakamoto.
Tomorrow's debate will be between the candidates for House District 43 ('Ewa Beach, West Loch), Democratic incumbent Romeo Mindo and Republican Kimberly Pine.
