Honolulu Star-Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • A4

A4 Thursday, February 11, 2016 THE GARDEN ISLAND thegardenisland.com nation SIRHAN PAROLE DENIED GREGORY BULL ASSOCIATED PRESS Sirhan Sirhan reacts during a parole hearing Wednesday at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility Assassin of Robert Kennedy claims he doesn 't remember shooting at hotel Elliot Spagat ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN DIEGO Sirhan Sir-han was denied parole Wednesday for fatally shooting Robert F. Kennedy after a confidante of the slain senator who was shot in the head forgave him and repeatedly apologized for not doing more to win his release. Paul Schrade's voice cracked with emotion during an hour of testimony on his efforts to untangle mysteries about the events of June 5, 1968. The 91-year-old former labor leader said he believed Sirhan shot him but that a second unidentified shooter felled Kennedy.

"I should have been here long ago and that's why I feel guilty for not being here to help you and to help me," Schrade said. The men faced each other for the first time since Schrade testified at Sirhan 's 1969 trial. Schrade apologized for not going to any of Sirhan 's 14 previous parole hearings. As Sirhan left, Schrade shouted, "Sirhan, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. It's my fault." Sirhan, who had nodded politely when the victim addressed him, tried to shake hands with Schrade but a guard blocked him.

Commissioners concluded after more than three hours of intense testimony at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Center that Sirhan did BORIS YARO LOS ANGELES TIMES Sen. Robert F. Kennedy awaits medical assistance as he lies on the floor of the Ambassador hotel in Los Angeles moments after he was shot. Sirhan Sirhan, who is serving a life sentence for the assassination of Sen.

Kennedy. not show adequate remorse or understand the enormity of his crime. Sirhan, who is serving a life sentence that was commuted from death when the California Supreme Court briefly outlawed capital punishment in 1972, will next be eligible for parole in five years. Potpu Bay "This crime impacted the nation, and I daresay it impacted the world," commissioner Brian Roberts said. "It was a political assassination of a viable Democratic presidential candidate." Sirhan, 71, stuck to his account that he didn't remember the shooting at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after Kennedy delivered a victory speech in the pivotal California primary.

Sirhan recalled events before the shooting in some detail going to a shooting range that day, visiting the hotel in search of a party and returning after realizing he drank too many Tom Col- was guilty of "an attack on the American political system and the American political process." "The prisoner has still not come to grips with what he has done," he said. In one of many emotional outbursts during his 1969 trial, Sirhan blurted out that he had committed the crime with 20 years of malice aforethought. That and his declaration when arrested, "I did it for my country," were his only relevant comments before he said he didn't remember shooting Kennedy. Sirhan said incriminating statements he made at trial were the result of an ineffective defense attorney who pressured him into thinking he was guilty. "I feel if I had a proper defense at the time then the results would have been quite different," he said.

Sirhan said he was initially reluctant to attend the hearing feeling he was mistreated at his last appearance in 201 1 but his attorneys successfully urged him to reconsider. Sirhan told the panel that if released, he hoped he would be deported to Jordan or would live with his brother in Pasadena, California. His hope, he said, was "just to live out my life peacefully, in harmony with my fellow man." "This is such a traumatic experience, it's a horrendous experience that for me to keep dwelling on it is harmful to me," Sirhan said. important trees. The disease called rapid ohia death has spread to 34,000 acres of native forest on the Big Island.

The Lyon Arboretum's Seed Conservation Laboratory is asking for the online donations to increase its supply of ohia seeds to allow for the trees to be reintroduced in affected areas, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported. Lab manager Mary Chau said the money will be used to pay staff and other costs related to storing and collecting the seeds from across the islands. "I thought this is something everyone cares about, and everyone is asking, 'How can we said Chau. "I thought crowdfunding could be a really good solution." The lab had raised nearly $16,000 of its $35,000 goal on its gofundme page by early Wednesday. Chau said the lab already has 1 million ohia seeds in storage, but that it may not be enough to cover the damage that has been done.

"If you know about ohia seeds, that's not very much," she said. "Ten-thousand can fit in the palm of your hand." The university's lab on Oahu stores seeds from more than 500 native species, some of which no longer exist in the wild. The ohia seeds will be stored in a freezer, allowing them to survive for decades. "It could really bring you hope in the future," Chau said. "We have a lot to lose; at least we can conserve the species that we love." The ohia tree is important to Hawaii's water supply, endangered native birds and cultural traditions like hula.

Associated Press that he couldn't take responsibility for the shooting. "If you want a confession, I can't make it now," Sirhan said. "Legally speaking, I'm not guilty of anything. It's not that I'm making light of it. I'm responsible for being there." Schrade, who was alongside Kennedy and four others who were injured and served as western regional director of the United Auto Workers Union at the time, provided much of the drama.

He angrily ignored the commissioner's admonishment to avoid directly addressing Sirhan and chastised the prosecution for a "venomous" statement advocating that Sirhan stay in prison. Schrade, who long advocated the second-gunman theory, recalled how he became depressed and upset after the shooting and vividly described his extensive efforts to find answers. He stopped occasionally to apologize for being nervous and emotional. The commissioner asked Schrade to wrap up after about an hour, saying, "Quite frankly, you're losing us." "I think you've been lost for a long time," Schrade shot back. At one point, the commissioner asked if anyone wanted a break.

"No, I want to get this over," Schrade answered from the audience. "I find it very abusive." David Dahle, a retired prosecutor appearing for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, said Sirhan native species if accidentally released into the wild. Navy solar project on Guam put on hold HAGATNA, Guam The U.S. Navy's proposal to lease Guam property for a solar power project has been put on hold. Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo announced Wednesday that she had halted the proposal.

She cited concerns over how the project would impact a Navy plan to reduce its overall footprint on the island, The Pacific Daily News reported. The Navy is looking to lease property in south Fine-gayan and the former Tuition Tank Farm to build a solar power system. The project is not directly related to the military buildup. Bordallo said any proposal seeking additional land use should be in line with the Navy's "net-negative" strategy, which calls for more efficient use of land already owned by the Department of Defense and a smaller footprint on Guam. Gov.

Eddie Calvo has raised similar concerns about leasing additional land for the proposal. He asked Bordallo to put the project on hold before any action is taken. Donations sought to help restore trees HILO, Hawaii A University of Hawaii conservation laboratory has set up an online crowdfunding page to help deal with a fungus that has infected hundreds of thousands of Hawaii's most cb calvarychapel "Seeking to know Him and make Him known!" I Sundays: 8am 10am Worship Service ('with children's ministry) Wednesdays: Jr.Sr. High Youth Adults Location: 3-3100 Kuhio Hwy. (across from McDonald's in Lihue) Contact us for more information or if you need prayer, 245-WORD (9673) cclihue.com facebook.comcclihue lins' to drive.

He drank coffee in a hotel pantry with a woman to whom he was attracted. The next thing he said he remembered was being choked and unable to breathe. "It's all vague now," he said. "I'm sure you all have it in your records, I can't deny it or confirm it. I just wish this whole thing had never taken place." Sirhan, a native of Jerusalem, listened intently during most of the hearing, turning testy when commissioners pressed him on his memory and any feelings of remorse.

He said he felt remorse for any crime victim but added Station Barbers Point on Oahu was expected to arrive on the scene later Wednesday, when it was still daylight. An oil tanker traveling nearby was heading to the vessel. It was expected to arrive a few hours after the Coast Guard plane as the sun sets. Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa McKenzie said the Coast Guard crew will assess the situation and the status of the survivors upon reaching the fishermen. The air crew has life rafts, radios and flares with them that they will be able to offer the fishermen if needed.

Bill would ban genetically engineered fish HONOLULU Hawaii lawmakers say they don't want genetically engineered fish grown in the islands. Lawmakers are moving forward with a bill to ban farming genetically engineered fish, which critics dub "frankenfish." The bill was introduced in response to the United States Food and Drug Administration's approval of genetically engineered salmon in November 2015. AquAdvantage salmon is the first genetically engineered fish approved for sale and consumption in the U.S. Opponents say the ban is premature because the fish aren't currently grown in Hawaii. They say it would be difficult to grow salmon because of Hawaii's warm climate.

But supporters of the ban worry about whether genetically engineered fish is safe for consumption. They also say the fish could threaten Holy Cross Church, Kalaheo Masses: Daily Sat. Sun. Confessions Sat. or by appt.

Sacred Heart Church, Eleele Mass: Phone number: (808) 821-2228 9 CROSS-ROADS Si n'stian Kapaa Bypass Road Kapaa (12 mi. from round-about) Komo Mai Welcome state briefs 2nd fatal officer-involved shooting in days HIL0, Hawaii Big Island police officers have shot and killed a fugitive for the second time in less than a week. Hawaii County police say officers in Hilo late Tuesday stopped a minivan known to be driven by a fugitive. Officers ordered the female driver and male passenger out. Police say the man fired a handgun as he got out.

Officers shot and killed him. Police later identified him as Scottie Yanagawa. Police say he was wanted for a January 31 shooting and for escaping from Hale Nani correctional facility in November. Police early Friday shot and killed Ronald Barawis Jr. Police say the fugitive drove over a curb at a fast-food drive-thru in Hilo and accelerated toward an officer.

Officers fired at the vehicle, killing Barawis and injuring a female passenger. Coast Guard helps fishermen after boat fire HONOLULU A U.S. Coast Guard airplane was heading south of Hawaii on Wednesday to help 42 people who abandoned their fishing vessel after it caught fire. The fishing crew boarded two life rafts, three work boats and one skiff upon leaving the 258-foot American Eagle. The U.S.-flagged vessel caught fire about 1,800 miles south of Hawaii.

No injuries were reported. A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air 2509 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI Sunday Holy Eucharist Rite II (9:00 AM) with Na Kamalei Keiki Program Wednesday Bible Study (6:00 PM) The Rev. Robin Taylor, Vicar 482-4824 Christmemorialkauai.org Christmemorial.kauaigmail.com Food Pantry Open Saturdays 3:30 PM Website: crossroadskauai.org ows Worship Services Saturdays 7:00 pm Sundays Kapaa United Church of Christ 1315 Ulu St, Kapaa (808) 822-9241 Lihue United Church 4340 Nawiliwili Rd, Lihue (808) 245-6253 New Hope Kauai in Kapaa 4695 Mailihuna Rd, Kapaa (808) 823-6877 Ghana Christian Fellowship EFCA Kapaa Middle School 4867 Olohena Kapaa ohanacfkauaiyahoo.com St. Michael All Angel Episcopal 4364 Hardy St, Lihue (808) 245-3796 THRIFT SHOP Hours: TUES, THURS FRI: 2PM -WED 5PM SAT 3PM Calvary Chapel Lihue 3-3100 Kuhio Hwy, Lihue (808) 245-9673 Christ Memorial Episcopal Church 2509 Kolo Ril. Kilauea (808) 482-4824 Crossroads Christian Fellowship Kapaa Bypass Rd (12 mi.

from round-about) (808) 821-2228 Holy Cross Parish 2-2370 Kaumualii Hwy, Kalaheo (808) 332-8011 Kauai United Church 4973 Puuwai Rd, Kalaheo (808) 339-2385.