Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 9

UMAi WlMim HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2004 HAWAII A9 Republicans gunning for state House control jr 333D 20" Color TV $75 Rattan Chairs 2 for $60 Double Bed from $115 Wall Mirrors from $10 4llTUL 1 1. 1-1 I Mini Refrigerators from $40 Patio Chairs 2 for $35 4 Drawer Dresser $195 6... FL MORRIS FMORRISgSTARBULLETIN.COM Gov. Linda Lingle, with LL Gov. Duke Aiona, greeted the crowd at her birthday fund raiser last night at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

Her party fell on the eve of the Hawaii GOP convention. Making the World More Beautiful Faces Mouths Eyelids Breasts Noses Cheeks Lips Chins Tummies Botox Injection Treatments Resurfacing Liposuction The Flowers Clinic Robert S. Flowers, M.D. World Renown Plastic Surgeon ISLE GOP CONVENTION AGENDA Here's a look at the 2004 Hawaii Republican Party convention to be held today through Sunday at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel: Before oQEDOGGO TODAY 8:30 a.m. Registration 9:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Various seminars including "ethnic outreach, protecting the ballot, education reform, campaign strategies and the 72-hour task force" 2 p.m. Public speaking from Gov. Linda Lingle 3 p.m. Platform forum f'. saturoav yft: 8:30 a.m.

Invocation 10:30 a.m. Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona speech 11 a.m. Brennon Morioka, GOP chairman, speech 11:15 a.m.

Parade of GOP candidates 11:25 a.m. Lingle speech 2:15 p.m. Party platform adopted 6:30 p.m. Dinner with Rich Galen, columnist and former communications director for former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Vice President Dan Quayle, keynote speaker sunoay i 8:45 a.m.

Call to order 9:05 a.m. Election of delegates to the 2004 GOP National Convention 10:30 a.m. County reports 11:25 a.m. Adjournment By Richard Borreca rborrecastarbulletin.com Hawaii Republican Party officials say their three-day convention in Waikiki is only about one thing: Winning 11 more seats and becoming the majority party in the state House. If they are successful, it would be the first time in 50 years that the Republicans controlled a chamber in the state or territorial legislatures.

To accomplish that, the GOP is banking on Linda Lingle to complete the deal she started when she became the state's first GOP governor in 40 years. "You are going to see a convention very focused on electing Republicans," Lingle said earlier this week. Supporters agree that Lingle is the engine pulling the GOP back onto the track. "I wouldn't have left my job as an engineer if I didn't believe in her," said Brennon Morioka, GOP chairman and executive director. "We are all here because we believe in her.

We are definitely galvanized around her." i To accomplish their goal of taking control of the House from the Democrats, the GOP needs to hold all 15 seats they now command and add an additional 11. The political consolation prize is to raise their number to at least 18, which would be enough to sustain a Lingle veto. Local Republicans will get a chance to meet the GOP candidates during the convention and hear from the declared candidates for Congress, including 1st Congressional District candidates Inam Rhaman and Dal-ton Tanonaka and 2nd District candidate Mike Gabbard. No major candidate has surfaced to oppose Hawaii's incumbent senior Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye.

The convention focus, however, is expected to remain on the state races. Morioka sees the convention as a chance for all the GOP candidates to start picking up supporters. "1 don't want any delegate or guest to leave the convention without having signed onto someone's campaign," Morioka says. Candidates have already gotten help from the GOP through campaign seminars held for the past year. The training sessions include pointers on breaking down their political districts into different voter groups and shaping their campaign messages.

"We are training them how to REACH A s'. HIGMEi fti K. with Hawaii Pacific University's WEEKEND MBA for BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS 18 -month program Friday evening and Saturday classes 67 Morioka agrees, noting that it is easier to craft a platform by looking for consensus and support for things all the candidates can agree upon. "I don't think a platform should include divisive issues," Morioka said. One issue that party leaders agree on is the need for money.

Lingle kicked off a string of five fund-raisers to celebrate her 51st birthday last night, with a $100-a-ticket affair at the Sheraton. Her fund-raisers will cross the state, ending with one on Kauai June 26. "The last race cost just over $5 million," Lingle said, adding that she wanted to raise funds for her re-election campaign every year and not just in 2006. (Mi mmw analyze their district and how to turn out the voters," Morioka said. They are also offered courses on public speaking.

Lingle is scheduled to give a talk today on the subject. If pumping up the local candidates is the first order of business, approval of a new platform is another convention Issue. In recent years Lingle and other GOP leaders have shied away from bruising political battles over abortion that had bitterly split the party. Lingle, who is pro-choice, says she is comfortable now with having the platform silent on the issue. "1 don't think we are going to see those kinds of major uproars.

We took the issue out In 2000," Lingle said. id On the Net: http:www.gophawaii. com Notice of Availability (N0A) of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Termination of the Air Force Mission at Johnston Atoll Airfield AGENCY: United States Air Force, DoD. ACTION: Notice of Availability. 2 fined for Hannemann donations By Rick Daysog 2000.

Under state law, a donor can give no more than $4,000 to a mayoral candidate during a four-year election cycle. Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, said Okimoto, Galase and their relatives contributed more than $26,000 to the Hannemann's 2000 campaign. But Watada said that the commission found no evidence that Nalo Farms or Okimoto reimbursed the donors. proved a $1,000 fine against Fay Galase, a secretary for Nalo Farms. In a four-page conciliation agreement, the commission said Okimoto donated $400 over the limit to Hannemann's 2000 mayoral campaign and that Nalo Farms did not file disclosure reports with the commission as required by law.

The commission also alleged that Galase made $1,000 In excess contributions to the Hannemann campaign In September rdaysogstarbulletin.com The state Campaign Spending Commission has voted to fine a Waimanalo farmer and one of his employees $1,500 for making excessive political donations to Honolulu mayoral candidate Mufi Hannemann. By a 5-0 vote Wednesday, the commission approved a $500 fine against Nalo Farms Inc. and President Dean Oklmoto. The commission also ap Weather center helps Pacific islands avoid damage By Helen Altonn SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the FEIS that assesses the potential environmental impacts of the termination of the Air Force mission at Johnston Atoll Airfield. The FEIS examines the potential environmental impacts of the following alternatives: (1) proposed action (termination of the Air Force mission) and (2) no-action (current management practices continue).

DATES: The waiting period for the FEIS will end 30 day's after publication of the NOA in the Federal Register, which is expected to occur on 04 June 2004. Following the 30-day waiting period, the Record of Decision will be issued. ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the FEIS, contact the Johnston Atoll Program Element (ATTN: Ms. Fran Saunders, 15 CESCEVJ, 75 II Street, Building 1204, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, 96853-5233). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Fran Saunders by fax at (808) 449-33 18, by e-mail at Frances.SaundershicLim.af.mil. or by mail at the above listed address. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Copies of the FEIS are available for review at the following libraries: University of Hawaii Hamilton Library, Government Documents Section (2550 The Mall, Honolulu, HI); Hawaii State Library, Hawaii Documents Section (478 Soutft King Honolulu, HI); Pacific Islands Contact Office, U.S. EPA, Region 9, PJKK Federal Building (300 Ala Moana Room 5-152, Honolulu, HI). next three to six months.

"Beyond that, there Is some uncertainty," he said. He and Malae were among officials discussing the Pacific ENSO Applications Center yesterday as a three-day regional workshop wrapped up at the East-West Center. It was attended by scientists, government officials and business representatives from Hawaii, Guam, Palau, the Marshall Islands, American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and the Federated States of Micronesia. Eileen Shea, East-West Center climate specialist, said scientists, fishermen, emergency workers, weather forecasters and others began the center 12 years ago to look at the Pacific "as a holistic system." They felt the islands could benefit from advance forecasts of changing hurricane and typhoon patterns, heavy rainfall, flooding and drought conditions, she said. of previous El Ninos were prevented, and "it was such a modest program," he added.

Similar steps were taken throughout the Pacific Islands to educate the public about the El Nino, conserve water, repair water systems, Increase water storage capacity and obtain generators and replacement parts for pumps. "Outreach was done before the event, talking to the island people eyeball to eyeball, building credibility," said Jim Weyman, meteorologlst-ln-charge of the National Weather Service's Honolulu Forecast Office and Central Pacific Hurricane Center director. "With climate information, like normal weather warnings, we can save lives and protect property," Weyman said. El Ninos are disturbances In the ocean and atmosphere that spawn weather disasters. Weyman said the forecast is "neutral" for an El Nino in the haltonnstarbulletin.com A climate-information center in Honolulu has protected lives and property from climate changes and tropical storms triggered by the phenomenon El Nino, officials say.

American Samoa had Its worst drought in the 20th century in 1997-98 because of a strong El Nino but suffered no damaging effects, said Abe Malae of the Power Authority there. Government and tuna cannery layoffs were avoided because advance Information from the Pacific ENSO (El Nino and Southern Oscillation) Applications Center allowed decisions to be made way before the drought, he said. Water conservation was Increased and free home repairs were done to repair leaks, among other precautionary actions, he said, Devastating consequences.