Posted on: Friday, January 21, 2005
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
State bar honors judge, two groups
Advertiser Staff
The Hawai'i State Bar Association is honoring Honolulu District Judge Leslie Hayashi and two organizations at a breakfast Tuesday at The Plaza Club for promoting diversity in the legal profession.
Hayashi is being recognized for leading the Judiciary Committee on Equality and Access to the Courts as its former chairwoman. She also coordinated the production of legal brochures in different languages and met with ethnic community groups.
The Korean American Bar Association of Hawai'i will be honored for supporting and promoting lawyers of Korean heritage and other work that includes panel discussions on the importance of diversity on public access television and translating legal brochures into Korean.
Also being recognized is the Pre-Admission Program at the William S. Richardson School
of Law for bringing people from different ethnic, economic, gender and other backgrounds to the law school and supporting them.
At least a dozen people had to leave their apartments yesterday morning after a fire broke out in a combination business and residential building on Kalihi Street.
Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said the fire, at 3075 Kalihi St., was reported at 2:49 a.m. and was brought under control about 20 minutes later.
Tejada said the fire was confined to a silk-screening shop, one of four businesses on the ground floor. Eight rental units are on the upper floor.
Eight fire companies responded to the two-alarm blaze, which caused approximately $50,000 damage to the ground-floor unit and $50,000 damage to its contents.
The Aloha Peace Forum, a free public event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the American Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International, is set for noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the SGI-USA Culture Center, 2729 Pali Highway.
Actor Patrick Duffy, best known for his TV role on "Dallas," and educator Heather Suehiro will co-host the event, which will open with music by performer Henry Kapono.
Ved Nanda, law professor and director of the International Legal Studies Program at the University of Denver, will give the keynote address. Reservations must be made.
Call Momi Kobayashi at 595-6324.
The city Department of Planning and Permitting will have a public hearing at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Hawai'i Kai Public Library on the state's plans to build a telecommunications facility, including a tower and other structures, atop of Koko Head.
It's part of a joint state/federal $26 million microwave antenna system that will improve emergency communications statewide and prepare Hawai'i to better handle everything from a natural disaster to a terrorist attack and the more common boater in distress. The system — known as Anuenue, or rainbow — will use broadband technology and antennas erected in strategic locations across the Islands.
For more information call the department's zoning regulations/permit branch at 523-4648.
LIHU'E, Kaua'i—County officials plan a public informational meeting at which they will seek comments on two plans for the development of the island's capital city, Lihu'e.
The session is scheduled at 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at meeting room 2 of the Lihu'e Civic Center.
The county Division of Public Works and consultant PBR Hawai'i are working on a master plan for improvements to the civic center itself—the block between Kuhio Highway, Rice Street, Umi Street and Hardy Street. The plan includes more green space along Rice Street, additional parking, the closing of 'Eiwa Street and a roundabout at the intersection of 'Umi and Hardy Streets.
The Planning Department is working with the same consultant on a separate design plan for the Lihu'e urban core, which will include an effort to provide the town with an overall theme. That plan is expected to call for improvements in car, bike and pedestrian traffic, as well as the redesign of some buildings.
Community groups, businesses and others are being consulted through interviews, public meetings, a citizens advisory committee and other means.
Kalihi fire leads to evacuation
Actor to co-host peace forum
Koko Head plans to be explained
Lihu'e's future to be discussed
