Navy, Geographic team finds bridge of USS Yorktown
After nearly three weeks of searching, the Navy and a National Geographic team this morning found the bridge of the USS Yorktown in 16,500 feet of water. The Yorktown sank 56 years ago during the Battle of Midway, which took place about 1,250 miles west-northwest of Honolulu.Heading the search for the 19,800-ton Yorktown is Robert Ballard, best known for discovering the Titanic. This was his sixth collaboration with the Navy.
Also in the group of searchers was a University of Hawaii team of scientists headed by Bruce Appelgate, director of field operations for the Mapping Research Group.
Lt. Lydia LePorte, Navy spokeswoman, said Ballard will spend the next day or so videotaping the wreck before moving westward to search for four Japanese carriers sunk by American fighters during the same naval battle.
The Navy also plans to leave a plaque at the site, but will not publicize its location.
Indonesians await new president, end to riots
Former Honolulu newsman Leonard Lueras, who lives in Bali, Indonesia, says President Suharto's call for new parliamentary elections and an eventual end to his 32-year reign is historic.Shortly after Suharto's announcement, Lueras said, "I think the entire nation was glued to their television sets about an hour ago.
"All I can tell you is that for the past two weeks the country has been ultra-tense, and major rioting has broken out literally across the entire country."
Bali is removed from most of the political turmoil and quite different from Jakarta, but everyone is still concerned, Lueras said.
A big question is whether nationwide protests and activity planned in the streets would go on today in light of Suharto's announcement, he said.
"That's still a big question mark -- whether the people are going to be satisfied with this particular compromise," Lueras said.
"He's basically finished, but he still wants to monitor a transition and a new election of an entirely new government."
Bali has been relatively free of violence, he added.
Lueras, a writer, whose daughter, 15, and ex-wife live in Honolulu, has a son with him who is 18 today.
"We had a party for him ahead of time, so he wouldn't have to time it on the day of the big protest," Lueras said.
Building demolition starts busy season for DeRussy
The wrecking ball next month will bring down a Waikiki landmark that has served as the Army's recreation center for more than half a century.Acting Army Secretary Robert M. Walker recently approved demolition of Maluhia Hall at Kalakaua Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard, making way for more green space at Fort DeRussy.
The demolition will be done by P.E.R. Inc. and will cost $242,677, said Cora Shimabukuro, chief of construction for the Army's Department of Public Works.
"We expect to have grass in by the end of June," she said.
Once Maluhia, which in Hawaiian means "haven of rest," is down "the green open space" will be used for native Hawaiian cultural activities, the Army said.
Since the end of the Vietnam War, the wooden, 26,047-square-foot two-story building has not been heavily used and most of the Army's major functions have moved from the 71-acre Waikiki site to Fort Shafter.
Nearby, the Army Reserve closed its headquarters at Kalani Center at Fort DeRussy in April.
That center was assumed by the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, which will move from its Waikiki Trade Center offices by midyear 2000.
Total cost of renovating the building will be about $9.5 million, including landscaping.
Hurricane safety manual issued for boat owners
A hurricane safety manual for Hawaii boat owners has been released for National Boat Safety Week, which began Saturday.The booklet was produced by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program and the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. With the publication is a water-resistant quick reference card of tips and emergency telephone numbers.
The materials are available at state small boat harbors, the Sea Grant communications office, U.S. Coast Guard and auxiliary facilities and civil defense agencies.
Sea Grant extension agent Christine Woolaway said the boating community recognized the need for the manual after the devastating damage of Hurricane Iniki in 1992. The project included the participation of county police and fire departments, civil defense agencies, the National Weather Service, the Coast Guard and other organizations, she said.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffCaller directs police to two prison escapees
Police have caught two inmates who escaped Thursday from the Women's Community Correctional Facility in Kailua.Sherilyn Lendt, 35, and Rina Evans, 29, were arrested Sunday morning after an anonymous caller tipped police.
The women were reported to be on Queen Emma Street fronting the Pacific Club, police said. One was located at 12:53 a.m. and the other at 6:30 a.m.
Lendt was serving time for six felony convictions, which included three thefts, two auto thefts and one burglary, said state Department of Public Safety officials. Her parole hearing was scheduled for Thursday.
Evans was serving time for probation violations and two drug-related convictions.
Warden Edwin Shimoda said officials are investigating how the two women escaped and the route they took.
Former police officer gets year in prison in theft ring
A former Honolulu police officer who received a medal for valor in 1987 will surrender June 29 to spend the next 12 months in prison.U.S. District Judge Alan Kay yesterday sentenced Gary K. Yuen to the term for conspiring to obtain items valued at $30,000 from a federal surplus warehouse.
Yuen served as a volunteer reserve officer at the department's firearms range in Koko Head Crater when he obtained the items from February 1995 to March 1997 for himself, friends and relatives.
Kay also ordered Yuen to pay a $10,000 fine within three months, saying he wanted to impress on him the seriousness of his conduct.
"You brought shame to the reputation you had as an outstanding police officer and that is very regrettable," Kay said.
Yuen, 49, said the incident was the first time he was involved in any wrongdoing.
"I did wrong," he said before Kay sentenced him. "I'll do what I have to do to put this behind me."
Man, 51, sentenced to nearly 6 years for molesting girl, 6
William W. Brandon, 51, has received a 71-month prison sentence for molesting a 6-year-old girl, a military dependent, at Schofield Barracks in May 1997.He pleaded guilty Jan. 16 to the charge of abusive sexual contact with a minor.
U.S. District Judge Alan Kay also sentenced Brandon yesterday to three months supervised release and a requirement to reimburse Tripler Hospital for $2,604 for the victim's care and $1,272 to another health care facility, also for the victim's care. Kay also required Brandon to pay a $100 special assessment.
Court documents say Brandon of Washington state lured the girl to a wooded area near her home at Schofield, where the victim's father is assigned, and molested her.
Brandon, a civilian, is the former common-law-husband of the girl's grandmother. He was staying with the victim's family at the time but is not related to the victim.
The judge also required him to refrain from using alcohol and to take part in substance abuse and mental health programs.
Wahiawa man held for making threats
Police yesterday charged a 39-year-old Wahiawa man for allegedly threatening the life of his neighbor.According to a police report, Glen Madolora believes that he owns the street he lives on and has reportedly demanded money from his neighbor for the use of Lena Place on several occasions.
Madolora, who was arrested Sunday, has allegedly threatened to shoot his neighbor in addition to holding a torch next to the man's home, police said. Madolora has also demanded money from two other neighbors, police said.
He was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
2 boys beat, rob man in Ala Moana area
Police are searching for two boys who beat and robbed a Makiki man in the Ala Moana area yesterday.Two boys reportedly attacked the 47-year-old man with a baton on Kanunu Street at 6 p.m., police said. After being hit three times, the two boys fled with his keys.
Suspect caught with his pants down
Honolulu police arrested a bank robber suspect while he was in the midst of changing clothes minutes after a holdup.The 45-year-old University Avenue resident was wearing only boxer shorts and prescription glasses when he was caught near Star Super Market in Moiliili, two blocks from the crime scene.
He is being held in the 2:20 p.m. robbery of a teller at the University Avenue branch of First Hawaiian Bank.
The robber presented a demand note claiming he had a weapon, but none was seen. He fled on foot after getting an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspect is believed to be the same man who robbed the Makiki branch of First Hawaiian Bank April 27, according to Myron Fuller, special agent-in-charge of the Honolulu FBI office.
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