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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, June 10, 2005

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Sailor shot; Three arrested

Advertiser Staff

Three people were arrested yesterday after a sailor assigned to the USS Lake Erie was shot and critically wounded at Pearl Harbor Naval Station, the Navy said.

The sailor was shot about 6:30 p.m. while standing in a parking lot of the bachelor enlisted quarters, the Navy said. He was taken to The Queen's Medical Center and was in critical condition last night.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service arrested three Pearl Harbor sailors and also recovered a weapon.

The NCIS is investigating the incident.



Elks staging Flag Day event

The Hawai'i Elks Lodges will hold their annual National Flag Day ceremony 2 p.m. Sunday aboard the USS Missouri. The U.S. Pacific Fleet Navy Band will perform, and Boy Scout Troop 180 will conduct a presentation of historic flags.

Elks members with military base stickers, government or military identification cards, driver's licenses and Elks cards will be admitted to Ford Island. Free shuttle service will be provided to the public from the Bowfin Museum.

Windward residents are invited to ride buses that will depart from Kailua District Park. To reserve a seat, call Louise Wildman at 254-3042 or Hank Liljedahl at 263-7673 no later than Friday. Buses will depart at 12:30 p.m. and return about 6 p.m.

After the one-hour ceremony, the Pearl City Elks Lodge will host a public reception at its new lodge at 98-761 Oihana Place #A, in 'Aiea across from Buzz's Steak House.



General returning to Isle command

Brig. Gen. James T. Hirai, who grew up in Wahiawa and graduated from the University of Hawai'i, is coming in from the cold.

The Pentagon announced that Hirai is returning to Hawai'i as deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter. He commands U.S. Army Alaska and is deputy commander of U.S. Alaskan Command at Fort Richardson.

The Leilehua High School graduate was commissioned in 1974 through the UH ROTC program. Hirai commanded the U.S. Army Garrison, Hawai'i, from 1997 to 1999, and became chief of staff for U.S. Army Pacific in 1999.

In 2001, Hirai added his name to the list of Army officers born or raised in Hawai'i to wear stars on their shoulders. The fraternity includes retired four-star Gen. Eric Shinseki, who is from Kaua'i.

The Pentagon also said Brig. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., assistant division commander for support with the 25th Infantry Division (Light), has been assigned Hirai's current command in Alaska.



Summer palace closed July 12-13

Queen Emma Summer Palace will be closed July 12 and 13 for termite fumigation.

The palace, located on Pali Highway in Nu'uanu Valley, is the former residence of Queen Emma. It has been preserved and maintained since 1913 by the Daughters of Hawai'i, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Hawaiian historic sites, culture and language.

The palace is now a museum open to the public.



Karate exhibit opens this month

A display honoring 105 years of the art of karate in Hawai'i will feature more than 100 historic photographs, weapons, rare books and artifacts.

The display opens June 25 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i community gallery in Mo'ili'ili with a series of karate demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Then it will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday until Aug. 19.

Center officials say they want to clear up common misconceptions about karate and show the origins of martial arts in China. Karate came to Hawai'i with the first Okinawan immigrants in 1900.

Admission is free. For information, call the center at 945-7633.



Law expands DNA database

A bill that will require all felons to provide DNA samples was signed into law yesterday by acting Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.

The samples will be saved in an expanded database that can be used to both convict or clear people of crimes. Before, only people convicted of murder, attempted murder or sex crimes had to submit DNA samples.

DNA contains a person's genetic code. The Lingle administration had initially wanted all felons and all those arrested for felonies to provide samples, but lawmakers limited the bill to convicted felons. The law also allows people to ask for post-conviction DNA testing of evidence.

"The new law expands DNA testing to help law enforcement professionals bring criminals to justice," Attorney General Mark Bennett said.

Aiona, the lieutenant governor, signed the bill because Gov. Linda Lingle is on a trip in Asia.



Water main break closes streets

A water main break early yesterday forced the closure of Wai'alae Avenue between 12th Avenue and Sierra Drive. The rupture of the 12-inch main at 4:45 a.m. disrupted service to 12 businesses for nearly eight hours.