Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 37

FIGHTING FOR THE NUUANU RESERVOIR AREA, A-4 CHINATOWN IS CHANGING, A-4 POLICEFIRE, A-5 A UnmUI City Desk: 525-8C40 E-mail: citydeskgstarbulletin.com Monday, May 24, 1999 Honolulu Star-Bulletin A-3 ackers take control of GOP They vow to add muscle to the party by increasing membership Newswatch AAA Fire Dept. takes over search for downed pilot The Coast Guard has suspended search operations for a missing pilot, but the Fire Department planned to send up its helicopter today to check the waters off Mokuleia. "We plan to resume searching the general area, and how long we stay out will depend on what we find," HFD Battalion Chief Kevin Kaneshiro said early today. "The impact was severe. So far, we've found only pieces." The Pacific Skydiving Center's twin-engine Beechcraft B-90 crashed Saturday shortly before 7:30 p.m.

about three-quarters of a mile offshore from the Mokuleia polo fields. The pilot, identified by the Coast Guard as Shawn Gloyer, 48, was the only one aboard. "We know for sure the plane is not visible in water from the shore to the reef. We're now focusing past the reef," Fire Department spokesman Capt Richard Soo said. Two shelves go beyond the reef, one dropping to 40 feet, and the other to 90 feet Commercial deep-sea divers would be required to search beyond the second shelf, Soo said.

Fire Department air and sea units searched a l'i-mile area from from Devil's Rock to Haleiwa yesterday. The search was called off around 5 p.m. due to exhausted divers and choppy seas. The Coast Guard searched by air and sea near Kaena Point, but operations have been suspended. Star-Bulletin staff The party's new officers under Lingle, who's pro-choice, resembled a de facto slate.

But Lingle preferred to describe them as part of "a team. I've worked with them before. I know what they can do." Attorney Shelton Jim On, a longtime party activist who was the Lingle campaign's downtown region grass roots leader, was uncontested for first vice chairman. In that position, he is responsible for candidate recruitment and training. Lingle did ask him to seek the post, but he had decided even before then, Jim On said.

Lingle, however, did recruit engineer Gary Ishikawa, the Lingle campaign's state grass roots coordinator, for second vice chairman, the liaison to the party's county committees. Ishikawa, once "a lifelong Democrat," is new to the GOP. In his first race for party office, he defeated former congressional candidate Tom White of Mililani, who also supported Lingle's gubernatorial bid. And while Lingle said either man would have been good in the party post, she delivered the nominating speech for Ishikawa. He won, 270 to 119.

Roland Lagareta, a construction company vice president who was Lingle's coordinator for the Nuuanu and Pali region, was elected third vice chairman, defeating a more seasoned GOP activist, Bob Chung, 302 to 84. "I will encourage and use the political excitement and energies of the last election to expand Hawaii's Republican Party and (to) elect Republican candidates throughout the state," said Lagareta. He is married to Kitty Lagareta, who was Lingle's campaign publicist "Linda brought me into politics," said Roland Lagareta. "She showed me that politics can be idealistic. It doesn't have to be cynical.

She told me I could vote and make some difference or I could become involved and make a lot of difference." Winning uncontested races were state Board of Education member Noemi Pendleton, to fourth vice chairwoman; former city of Honolulu Finance Director Linda Smith, to treasurer; and Sue Canter, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor, to secretary. By Lingle's estimate, about 200 of the 411 delegates were her supporters from the gubernatorial election who had no prior involvement with the GOP. One of them was Conchita Stewart, 66, of Mililani, a retired Hawaiian Telephone project administrator who worked as a volunteer in Lingle's campaign headquarters. "I was a Democrat all my life. Now I'm happy to be a Republican.

I'm so fed up with the Democratic Party and what has been happening around us," Stewart said, alluding to the state's economic woes and situations of questionable ethics involving current and former Democratic elected officials. Weak points were evident The composition of convention delegates reveals several weak points that Lingle must rectify if her chairmanship is to be a success. While the party rules were changed so that the smaller 51 House districts will be used for party organization to get more people involved, under the fewer but larger 25 Senate districts, the GOP was still unable to organize two districts. There were no delegates from Aiea which is represented by Senate President Norman Mizuguchi, whom several Republicans and Democrats believe could be vulnerable next year and Waipahu, whose incumbent Democrat, Cal Kawamoto, won't be up for re-election in the year 2000. Moreover, while Oahu accounts for 80 percent of the state's population, a little less than 50 percent of the convention delegates were from Oahu.

"We've got a lot of work to do," said new party secretary Canter. "Let's go do it" By Mike Yuen Star-Bulletin POIPU, Kauai The Hawaii Republican Party has been transformed into the Lingle Lingle campaign for governor in waiting. Lingle and lieutenants from her campaign that nearly unseated Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano last year easily took control of the state Republican Party yesterday. As the party's annual three-day convention ended, they vowed to add muscle to the GOP by increasing party membership and by recruiting strong candidates who could increase the GOP's minuscule numbers in the Legislature and county councils.

I Laying the groundwork for a stronger party in next year's elections will undoubtedly help her if she makes another run for governor, said Lingle, the former Maui mayor. She's been candid about using the chairmanship to launch a gubernatorial bid in 2002, when there will be no incumbent Lingle reiterated that she will not seek elective office next year, as party building will be her focus. "It'll be very clear whether I'm successful or not," she said. Convention mood was upbeat Lingle has declined to say what goals she'll be setting for gains in party membership and elective offices. The state GOP now claims a membership of 24,000.

That's 4,000 more than the Democratic Party, which has dominated isle politics since the mid-1950s. And while Lingle lost the gubernatorial election by a little more than 5,000 votes and while Republicans made no gains in the Democratic-dominated Legislature last year, the mood at the convention in Poipu Star-Bulletin Hie photo Linda Lingle, new head of the state GOP, vows to boost party strength. was upbeat It was unlike the despair that haunted the 1995 convention after former U.S. Rep. Patricia Saiki finished third in the 1994 gubernatorial race that many fellow Republicans expected her to win.

"Back in 1995, the (convention) turnout was smaller. It was like the air had gone out of a balloon," said state GOP counsel Rick Clifton. "Now, with Linda Lingle staying involved, keeping her organization going, the feeling is not like we're victims. People are marching forward. People are staying engaged." Lingle was elected party chairwoman with the support of both party old-timers and many first-time convention delegates so-called Lingle Republicans who are independents and disenchanted Democrats drawn into the GOP after backing her 1998 gubernatorial run.

She crushed the party's former Oahu County chairman, James Kuroiwa whose anti-abortion views reflect the party's conservative wing. The vote was 325 to 63. if I ma Getting the Hokule'a ready to sail The crew of the voyaging canoe Hokule'a prepares for its voyage to Rapa Nut, loading food and other supplies at Pier 1 9 over the weekend. The Hokule'a will sail to the Big Island this week in preparation for the voyage to Rapa Nui. That voyage will begin in June.

lit' Jtww! -ml ,4 El 5UET-1 Vis? i 5 1 Bv Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin 5 11? Political File AAA Lingle quiet about mailing before GOP convention POIPU, Kauai Linda Lingle, who several times during her gubernatorial bid complained of being the victim of dirty tricks, had one pulled on her during her successful run to lead the state Republican Party. This time, she kept quiet A few days before the 411 convention delegates gathered here, each received in the mail a copy of a story from the Honolulu Weekly, the left-leaning publication that Republicans love to hate, that was highly critical of Lingle and how she funneled some of her campaign funds. There was no indication as to who sent it out. Using the logic her campaign manager, Bob Awana, applied when they cried foul last year who stood to benefit the only candidate contesting Lingle was asked if he was behind the anonymous mailing. "No way! That's not my style," replied the GOP's former Oahu County chairman, James Kuroiwa Jr.

If he had mailed it out, it would have carried his name, he said. Kuroiwa said he and then-party Chairwoman Donna Alcantara tried to uncover the culprit They were unsuccessful, Kuroiwa said. Why didn't Lingle open her mouth? Perhaps the answer can be found in the keynote speech that Jim Nicholson, the head of the Republican National Committee, gave to delegates. He said Republicans must be united and obey President Reagan's 11th Commandment: Never speak ill of another Republican. if i ,4 1 f- High hopes for hydrofoil despite glitch Campaign spending panel looks at donations to GOP The Honolulu-Ewa ferry could be 'great' for getting in and out of Hana, until service begins on Oahu Under a tentative plan, round-trip fares would amount to $85.

Hana residents would pay $5 for a round trip on a space-available basis, Loui said. The hydrofoil was bought to provide ferry service between Honolulu and Ewa. Pacific Marine Supply operator of the hydrofoil, is considering whether to offer temporary transportation on Maui until September, when the ferry service begins on Oahu. Loui said it would offer visitors and residents an alternative in travel, in light of the partial closure of Hana Highway on weekdays for road repairs for the next year. Hana Highway traffic at Hono-manu is closed from 6 a.m.

to 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Residents say the hydrofoil could offer them a way to shop in central Maui without driving.

Henrietta Revilla, a retiree who lives in Kahului but was born and raised in Hana, said she wants to visit her family in Hana but doesn't like to drive the road anymore. The ferry appeals to her "because I could go home more," Re-villa said. the trip. Loui said a flight control sensor was not working, causing an imbalance on the boat at higher speeds. He said the hydrofoil could have continued at lower speeds to Hana, but the trip would have taken hours.

Some 20 passengers returned to Kahului Harbor. The cancellation left some 130 passengers waiting on the dock at Hana Harbor. "We'd like to apologize to the people for any inconvenience," Loui said. "The gremlins really came out in this trip." Loui said the hydrofoil began having problems Friday, turning an expected 3Mi-hour trip from Oahu to Maui into eight hours. The boat was taken back to Honolulu for repair.

Loui said he's willing to bring back the boat for a demonstration but would have to make new arrangements with Hana residents, Council members and state harbor officials. "If the community is supportive of the concept, we're willing to try," he said. Several residents said they hope the hydrofoil returns. Cook, and Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, which Watada says are over the limit for campaign contributions. The new GOP chairwoman, Linda Lingle, former Maui mayor and unsuccessful 1998 candidate for governor, said this morning that the investigation has been under way since March.

The commission's concerns, she said, involve a series of checks that were entered twice by campaign volunteers. Linda Smith, newly elected GOP treasurer she was assistant treasurer last year said the confusion came about because the campaign checks had two names on them and were entered twice, thereby artificially raising the contributions. As for the out-of-state contributions, Smith said they came because the former GOP chairwoman, Donna Alcantara, had been successful in asking for money from GOP organizations in western states. "It was all definitely reported," she said. By Richard Borreca Star-Bulletin A series of transactions that resulted in more than $100,000 in new money for the Hawaii Republican Party has raised the curiosity of the state Campaign Spending Commission.

Although no formal investigation has been set, Robert Watada, Campaign Spending Commission executive director, says he and his staff have been looking at the filing by state Republicans because of four large contributions from Republican Party organizations in Nevada, Arizona, Idaho and Missouri. "I think there are sufficient grounds to say there are some curious things going on," Watada said. No formal charges have been filed nor has there been a call for an investigation, Watada said. The probe also is looking at contributions made by David Murdock, chairman and CEO of Dole Food Co. and Castle and "Political File" is a weekly compilation of news, notes and anecdotes on government and politics.

By Gary Kibota Muut correspondent WAILUKU Several Maui residents say although the trip from Kahului Harbor to Hana was aborted, they liked the demonstration ride on a 140-passenger hydrofoil. The hydrofoil ride is expected to take 45 to 60 minutes, compared to a two-hour drive by road, according to the operator, Pacific Marine Supply Inc. Mililani Kelepolo, a Hana resident, said the ride Saturday was fairly smooth at 22 knots, and she could imagine it getting better as it reached 40 knots. "If the thing had worked out, it would have been great," said Kelepolo. The hydrofoil began shuddering when it reached 23 knots several miles outside Kahului Harbor Saturday morning, forcing company President Steven Loui to call off Correction AAA Of the eight Democratic state senators defeated in 1996 and 1998, all but one was replaced by another Democrat A story Friday had an incorrect number of Democrats replacing Democrats..