Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, July 30, 1997

Foes of Molokai Ranch
can keep attorney

WAILUKU - An attorney for a native Hawaiian group can continue to represent his clients in a lawsuit against Molokai Ranch, despite an allegation that his journalist-wife obtained confidential information while gathering news from the company.

Maui Circuit Judge E. John McConnell ruled the ranch presented no proof that confidential information was passed between attorney Alan Murakami and his wife, Naomi Sodetani, who works as a free-lance writer.

But McConnell indicated if confidential information were passed, he would worry about Murakami continuing to represent the group Pono.

Sodetani said she was happy with the ruling.

"I hate the suggestion from the ranch that I gave my husband information," she said.

Attorney Ken Kupchak, representing the ranch, said he was pleased that the ranch received assurances from Murakami and Sodetani that confidential information will not pass hands.

The request to disqualify Murakami is one of many filed by the ranch to defend its multi-million-dollar vacation campgrounds project on Molokai.

McConnell will hear arguments Sept. 2 on whether the court should enforce a state Land Use Commission ruling against the ranch that the campsites are not allowed on agricultural land. The county has refused to enforce the commission's ruling.

Head-on auto crash on Big Isle
kills both drivers and a child

"It was like a bomb hit the car," South Kohala fire Capt. Al Tobasa said. "The front bumper and engine was all the way up to the driver."

Tobasa was describing a 1985 Ford two-door sedan that was struck head-on yesterday by another car on Queen Kaahumanu Highway about a half mile on the Kona side of the entrance to the Hapuna Prince Hotel. The crash killed both drivers and a child.

An 11-year-old girl, who was with her mother and brother in the Ford, was listed in satisfactory but "unstable" condition at Kona Community Hospital.

Police said a southbound 1995 Honda two-door sedan driven by 22-year-old Richard J. Gaspar Jr. of Kailua-Kona crossed the center line and collided with the Ford.

The identities of the woman and boy killed are not being released by police until relatives are notified.

Library employees discuss ideas

Library employees are hopeful they will be able to devise a workable plan to get new materials into Hawaii's libraries as quickly as possible.

But most employees agree it will require more than creativity to continue providing public service at current staff levels, tackling the backlog in cataloging and setting up a local selection and acquisition system.

State Librarian Bart Kane and a team of four administrators yesterday met with 41 employees to brainstorm and gather recommendations.

It was the first of four all-day meetings planned on four islands, with a meeting on the Big Island held at the Laupahoehoe Public and School Library today.

Library employees will meet tomorrow at Kahului Library and on Kauai at Lihue Library on Friday.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.

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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Teen arrested for theft
of Waianae Pizza Hut cash

Police last night arrested a 16-year-old boy for suspicion of stealing from a Waianae Pizza Hut.

Police said the boy entered the manager's office using the back door of the restaurant at the Waianae Mall Shopping Center.

Police said he took seven bank bags containing an unspecified amount of money.

The boy went to the bathroom to count the money, and upon leaving, the manager questioned what he was doing. The manager found empty bank bags on the bathroom floor and called the police.

Suspect charged in alleged
assault of former girlfriend

Police yesterday arrested and charged a 34-year-old man for alleged sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend.

At 11 a.m. police arrested Jimmy Ramiro, 34, of North School Street after his ex-girlfriend, 36, told police that he raped and threatened to kill her.

He is being held in lieu of $50,000 for first-degree sexual assault.

Stream overflows, causing
$49,000 in house damage

WAILUKU -- A flooded stream caused an estimated $49,000 in damage to a house and surrounding property in Haiku this morning.

"The whole house had water clear up to the ceiling," said Fire Capt. Eric Revells.

The house is located in a sparsely populated rural area, mauka of Hana Highway near Twin Falls.

Revells said he believes the stream overflowed after a portion was clogged during flooding.

The stream waters later subsided.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.