The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 3

ISLAilD EDITION jj TF" The Honolulu Advertiser Our ffe-Honolulu Wednesday, April 8,1998 City Desk: 525-8090 Fish-poisoning cBiarge undispuf ec Jail possible for fire captain By Ken Kobayashl Advertiser Courts Writer A Honolulu Fire Department captain yesterday pleaded no contest to a charge that he used chlorine to kill fish off Maka-puu, but is asking for a chance to have his case dismissed. Donald Watanabe is not contesting the misdemeanor charge that he used the chlorine in an underwater cave about 50 yards offshore on Jan. 12. But he will ask that he be granted a deferred acceptance of his no-contest plea, which would mean the case will be dropped if he abides by conditions similar to probation. City prosecutors, however, will oppose the request and ask that he be found guilty and given the maximum sentence of because, although the practice of using chlorine to kill fish has been going on for years, it's been difficult to catch the culprits.

Chlorine kills fish by damaging their gills, but leaves the fish edible. Chlorine also kills coral reefs. Kealoha said about 300 fish were found in an 18-foot boat owned by Watanabe's co-defendant, Henry Rosa, who is awaiting trial on the same misdemeanor charge. Rosa's trial is scheduled for the week of June 8. Michael Wilson, director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said yesterday's development is "the first step toward what we hope will be a meaningful statement about the seriousness of poisoning our coral reef." The department "appreciates the support we've received from the fishing community in pursuing this case," he said.

Working the high way Long prison terms for thefts praised nu I mv "It.1"""""""" 1 By Jean Ckristensen Advertiser Staff Writer Lengthy prison terms handed down in federal court against five convicted purse snatchers will go a long way toward deterring such crimes against tourists, police said yesterday. Stanley Edwards Jon Pio-hia and Vincent John Southon received terms of 11 years and eight months, eight years and five months, and three years and 10 months, respectively, in U.S. District Court Monday. Last week, John M. Edwards was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Kenneth Kalei Young received a 5V4-year term. Prosecutors said the five men were members of a Waimanalo-based crime ring that targeted tourists from Japan from March 1996 to July 1997. The robbers allegedly drove around in teams of three or four and grabbed purses and pocketbooks from pedestrians while driving past them. They are among 12 who have been prosecuted under the Hobbs Act, which makes it a federal crime to interfere with commerce across state lines. Prosecutors said the purse snatchings interfered with commerce because they targeted tourists.

All 12 pleaded guilty rather than go to trial; seven others are awaiting sentencing. vk IF vw xyt a i f- rtr i 4 1 1, X' tMgtVm? Uhiw X4 4 1 f-; BOB KRAUSS Children teach elders computing Sylvia Levy's doctor wrote an excuse for her to give the teacher when she missed a class at Aina Haina Elementary School. The doctor got a big kick out of writing the excuse because Sylvia is 83 and the teacher is 11. Sylvia's class is for 20 grandmothers and grandfathers at the Arcadia Retirement Residence. They are learning from fifth graders how to operate computers in the Aina Haina School library.

It's a toss-up whether the seniors or the kids have more fun. Gray-haired Ben Marx reported, "My instructor was Cathy. At one point, she put her arm around my shoulder and in a teachers voice said, 'You are doing very The bewildered students sit in undersized chairs in front of computers while their knowledgeable instructors stand behind and coach. "They are so quick," said Sylvia. "I'd ask how to do it and my instructor did it before I knew what was happening.

"A lot of it is my own fault. I never learned to type or play the piano." Amanda Nishimura, 11, admitted, "It was kind of strange to be teachers to them. My student was typing a diary. I was really patient with her. Her problem was she wouldn't click the mouse two times." Already an experienced teacher, Amanda is helping her parents use the Internet.

Librarian Candace Foster, who supervises, said her instructors started the grandparents out at the kindergarten level with a drawing game, clicking from dot to dot to sketch an airplane. One of the grandparents has progressed to writing a thank-you note on the computer. Foster said the kids take their responsibility as teachers seriously. The girls wear dresses instead of shorts to class and the boys put on aloha shirts instead of T-shirts. The program is funded by a small grant from Learning to Serve America.

"We started with parents," Foster explained. "They have worked so hard to get us these computers that we thought they ought to be able to make use of them at night when they are just sitting idle." So Foster and some students hatched the idea to teach parents to use computers. "I expected 10 parents, so I got five students to teach," said Foster. "At the last minute, 20 parents signed up." Seventeen student teachers were recruited. Then, some Arcadia residents visited the library and got interested in the computers.

So fifth graders Amber Tamburi and Lisia Uyema visited the Arcadia to invite residents to take computer lessons. Foster said the computer classes for parents are from 6 to 8 p.m. in the library on Wednesdays. You don't have to be a parent. Advertiser columnist Bob Krauss may be reached at 525-8073.

ISLAND VOICES "We're taking seriously all of the defendants who destroy our natural resources." City Deputy Prosecutor Katharine Kealoha, who is asking that a man who pleaded no contest to killing fish with chlorine be given the maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. See story, this page. one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. "It's a serious offense, and we're taking seriously all of the defendants who destroy our natural resources," Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha said. District Judge I.

Norman Lewis scheduled a June 2 hearing on Watanabe's request and possible sentencing. Kealoha said the case is important for the Department of Land and Natural Resources Bruce AsatoThe Honolulu Advertiser group grows galize gay and lesbian unions. Last month the Campaign Spending Commission issued a ruling that Australian Consul General Colin McDonald improperly made a $200 contribution to the fund-raiser. McDonald, who did not know the donation was a political event, is barred under state law from making political contributions because he is a foreign national. Woods has since raised more complaints.

He contends that a See Donate, Page B4 children's safety. Sunday begins with the 1.6-mile Keiki Great Aloha Run at 8 a.m., a family fun roller-skate parade at noon, along with the the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition's games and exhibits. There will also be reef exhibits by Atlantis Adventures and Sea Life Park Hawaii, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, games, obstacle courses, trolley rides and food booths. Admission is free, but there are separate fees for the swim and run. Honolulu' lifeguards decided to hold their race "since this is Estate may be held in contempt over files 9 'V "There are going to be copycats out there trying their luck.

But it's just not as blatant as it once was. GLEN MURAMOTO POUCEDFTECTIVE Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Butrick "took the chance in using this Hobbs Act," said police Detective Glen Muramoto of the East Honolulu burglary and theft detail. "It was the first time we tried it, and it worked." Muramoto said that after authorities broke up the crime ring, the number of reported purse snatchings dropped from 50 or 60 a month to one or two a month. "I would still put out a warning.

There are going to be copycats out there trying their luck. But it's just not as blatant as it once was," Muramoto said. tablished in 1884 to support the Kamehameha Schools for Hawaiian children. Late Monday, after six months of legal maneuvering, the trustees delivered four boxes of documents to investigators, who had expected closer to 16 boxes. A hearing is scheduled April 16 before 1st Circuit Court Judge Kevin S.C.

Chang to determine whether the trustees have delivered all documents or should be held in contempt. "What's the attorney general's evidence that we didn't give them everything?" said William C. McCorriston, the estate's lead attorney in the investigation. He said Bronster has a "shoot first, ask questions later" investigative style. Bronster, who could not be reached for comment, said in court papers her office had learned of withheld documents when third parties, such as banks, produced relevant documents under subpoena that were not released by the estate.

the family Lifeguard Tower IC. The Keiki Great Aloha Run costs $12 for the first child, $10 for additional children in the same family and $3 for adults running with children under 6. The race is open to children 12 and under. It starts from McCoy Pavilion and loops around the footpath around Ala Moana Park. For more information on the swim, call 922-3888.

For more information on the Keiki Great Aloha Run, call 235-4714 or 528-7388. For more information on the Great Keiki Fest, call 973-0795. Workers from Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. work atop forms for a 12-foot-high concrete retaining wall along the H-1 Freeway near Aiea. The wall is needed for a new lane being added to the freeway's westbound lanes from this apparatus.

Scrutiny of pro-marriage State to study donations at fund-raising event By Sandra S. Oshiro Advertiser Staff Writer More contributions to a November fund-raiser held by a group advocating traditional marriage will come under scrutiny by the state Campaign Spending Commission. Commissioners voted yesterday to formally investigate three new complaints filed by gay activist William Woods that Handover of documents incomplete, says state By Sally Apgar Advertiser Staff Writer Attorney General Margery Bronster, not satisfied that trustees of the Bishop Estate have delivered to the state all of the documents they had turned over to the Internal Revenue Service, yesterday asked the court to find the trustees in contempt. On Oct. 20 Bronster had subpoenaed for her own investigation all documents the trustees had handed over to the IRS.

Bronster's investigators had expected 17,000 pages or more of documents detailing transactions dating from Jan. 1, 1993, which they hoped would give them insight into the IRS investigation. Bronster has been looking into allegations since August of financial mismanagement and other improprieties by the trustees of the charitable trust, es- everyone in the year of the ocean and to promote water safety, get more kids in the water," said Ralph Goto, city ocean safety director. Hawaii has the second-highest drowning rate in the country, and one study found that 70 percent of Hawaii schoolchildren couldn't swim 50 yards with any proficiency. The swim costs $7 for the first child, $5 for each subsequent one in the same family and $3 for adults accompanying children 8 or under.

The race starts from Lifeguard Tower IE near Magic Islartd and runs ewa around a buoy, finishing near YOUTH: GREAT KEIKI FEST Children's festival offers activities for campaign spending laws were violated in connection with the event. Save Traditional Marriage '98, a political action group that opposes gay marriage, netted about $90,000 from the fundraiser. The group is preparing for this fall's election, when voters will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment aimed at preserving traditional, heterosexual marriage. The proposed amendment comes in the wake of court rulings that would le- getting kids moving." The Great Keiki Fest is April 25-26 at Ala Moana Park's McCoy Pavilion, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

each day. There will be a new event at 8 a.m. Saturday before the fest begins a 500-meter swim off Magic Island for youngsters 14 and under. It will be followed by Meadow Gold's high school milk carton regatta at noon, a Honolulu Theatre for Youth performance at 1:30 p.m., and games and exhibits organized by the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition throughout the day to teach Advertiser Staff Jennifer Dang has two children and knows that families interested in fitness can't always find the time to do things together. And when Dang saw various groups putting on separate activities, she helped bring them together to form this year's two-day Great Keiki Fest.

"Parents are too busy, kids are too busy, so we started combining all these events to celebrate children and family," said Dang, wh. coordinates the Keiki Great Aloha Run portion of the festival. "Our whole thing is.