Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 3

A-3 NEWSWATCH A-4 Gambling raid nets 21 people A-4 Witness backs killer in new trial" Groulty revises cnti-gay marriage bill Knowing he doesn't yet have support from his committee, Senate Judiciary Chairman Rey Graul-ty this morning revised a bill opposing same-sex A-4 Army lab puts MIA puzzle together Tuesday, March 22, 1 994 Star-Bulletin marriage Dy aaaing more reasons inai socman i occur. He also called for a commission to identify heterosexual marriage benefits and determine how to extend them to same-sex couples. Whaling ship my Eiuo? near isi 66 Japan has been eager to whale the North Pacific for years but has held off for what it considers the right political climate. 99 Don White Earthtrust president Japanese whalers could be within 1 ,000 miles this summer By Peter Wagner Star-Bulletin Japanese whalers could be hunting waters north of Kauai this summer in defiance of an international ban, says Hawaii-based Earthtrust According to the group, a Japanese "factory ship" plans to hunt minke whales in the Northern Pacific in June. Officials at the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu yesterday said they knew of no such whaling plans.

The ship, up to 500 feet long and able to process whales on board, could be within 1,000 miles of Hawaii, Earthtrust said. Japan has been eager to whale the North Pacific for years but has held off for what it considers the right political climate," said Earthtrust President Don White. "It apparently sees the United States' failure to sanction Norway's illegal whaling as the signal it has been waiting for." Norway recently resumed whaling in defiance of a worldwide moratorium in effect since 1986. The International Whaling Commission, which oversees the moratorium, has no enforcement power. Minke whales, smallest of the baleen whales, are less than 30 feet long.

They became targeted by whalers after larger species were hunted into near-extinction. White said the plan was recently disclosed by members of the International Whaling Commission, the organization overseeing a whaling moratori- ings since 1979. While limited whaling is allowed by special permit for scientific research, Japan has abused the allowance to engage in commercial whaling in the Antarctic, White said. About half the whale meat sold in Japan comes from minke whales while the rest is taken from rare whale species or dolphins, the group said. Earthtrust faults the Clinton admin-istration for not using trade sanctions under the Pelly Amendment to discourage whaling.

The Japanese government is expected to push for amendments to current regulations at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission this summer in Puerto Vallarta, White said. "At stake is the potential resumption of commercial whaling," White said. "It could be open season on whales again." um In effect since 1086. Earthtrust has been an officially recognized observer at commission meet Gay rights activist Woods not guilty of stealing urauiiy asitea me Hawaii supreme uoun 10 abstain from imposing its ruling on the state until the Legislature determines who should be allowed to marry. It's too early to tell how many members support this," he said after discussing the bill with his committee.

They wanted me to put my final thoughts down and I did." The state Supreme Court ruled last year that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional unless the state could show compelling reasons for not allowing such marriages. Same-sex marriage supporters opposed Graulty's new version, saying it added nothing to the debate. "The arguments were made by the attorney general in 1993 in a motion to reconsider and they were denied," said Dan Foley, attorney for three same-sex couples who sued the state for the right to marry. He also said courts rarely abstain from imposing rulings except in cases involving reapportionment. Deputy Attorney General Steve Michaels said courts do abstain.

"It's our feeling the court will pay attention to what the Legislature does," Michaels said. 'Pyramid' barge to go down as reef The 'pyramid" barge of Windward Oahu will become part of an artificial reef The state Department of Land and Natural Resources took possession of the vessel last Wednesday. The barge was illegally grounded on the mudflats at Kahaluu, state officials said. The four-story pyramid will be demolished and removed this week, and the 110-by-30-foot steel-hulled barge will be sunk at the Kualoa artificial reef site sometime next week, said Steve Thompson, Oahu district manager of the department's Boating Division. Its final resting place will be about a mile offshore in depths of from 70 to 90 feet Fishermen and boaters are asked to stay clear of the site while the work is going on.

The vessel was towed to the mudflats from Keehl Lagoon, where it was moored without a permit, the state said. Owner Brenda Dyer and agent Ron Howarth were advised to remove the vessel from the mud-. flats. "We proposed to them In September 1993 that they move the vessel to adjacent land owned by Ms. Dyer's corporation, and we gave them a reasonable period of time to pursue the matter with the city and county," Thompson said.

"The owner made no progress in obtaining the proper county permits to move the vessel." A Circuit Court judge recently denied a request to halt the state from seizing the vessel. The state is responding to "repeated and urgent demands by Windward residents to get rid of the vessel, Thompson said. Reported by Star-Bulletin staff In acquitting Woods, Circuit Judge Marie Milks said she was "left very troubled" that the state attorney general's office did not provide sufficient evidence to indicate Woods was not entitled to the insurance benefits. "The court therefore had to make an assumption that he was," Milks said. Woods called the decision "a small amount of vindication for two years of media and public and special interest groups trying to pursue the destruction of my life." "The attorney general and people who had an interest in this issue refused to sit down and talk to me in advance, refused to go through the checks signed by Woods were prepared by a bookkeeper hired by the group and invoice records clearly showed their purpose.

"We were confident that the court would give the right decision," Garcia said. The group, co-founded by Woods in 1988, is a federally funded, nonprofit organization that promotes research and programs related to AIDS. An audit also led to an accusation that Woods took $2,230 to repair and improve his house, but theft and conspiracy charges were dismissed after the death of a key witness in January. Woods resigned as the group's treasurer in 1991. He was accused of taking $1,200 from the isle AIDS Task Group Star-Bulletin staff A state judge today found gay rights activist William E.

Woods not guilty of stealing $1,200 from the Hawaii AIDS Task Group. Woods, 44, had been charged with second-degree theft for deceptively using the organization's money to pay for his Kaiser Foundation health plan in 1991, when he was treasurer. records we said were available to them, which would have demonstrated my authority and responsibility within the group," he said. Deputy Attorney General Joanne Ha'o, though, said attempts had been made to discuss the matter and were rejected until the case was close to conclusion. The government contended Woods signed checks for the health benefits even though he knew the task group's board of directors had prohibited using funds for such purposes.

But defense attorney Ignaclo Garcia said his client had made no effort to deceive the group, noting that the Is this really necessary? NEWSMAKER Now queen still In shock fe Hooponopono may replace courtrooms A bill would give Hawaiians another way to resolve cases By Devi Sen Laskar Star-Bulletin Native Hawaiians could be allowed to practice an ancient form of dispute resolution as an alternative to going to court in certain cases. The House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs yesterday passed a measure that would allow court use of the practice known as hooponopono. It uses a haku, or well-respected unbiased individual trained in the an-cient form of mediation to solve community, family and personal problems. The bill now goes to the House Judiciary and Finance committees. Stephen Yadao, who is studying for a degree in social work, said he has "found the greatest successes in working with people has been understand mm MIcahKimuraJte years old, winces a bit as sister Chelsea puts some suntan lotion on his face at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki yesterday.

Wahiawa-born Ken-delle Chiemi Yamamo-to still doesn't believe she was crowned queen of the Cherry Blossom Festival over the weekend. 1UI BU11 Ul she said. "It was very tough competition. All 14 other candidates they would make excellent queens. I'm just happy I was sen.

"If I could tell the girls something, I would just thank them for their support and love. I couldn't have done it without them." Yamamoto is a full-time student at Leeward Community College and works part-time for Hawaiian Air Nome: Kendelle Chiemi Yamamoto Age: 23 -t Position: 42nd Cherry Blossom Queen Education: Lellehua High Hobbles: hula and Polynesian dancing, Softball ing their situation, being sensitive to their needs and approaching their problems in a way that is acceptable to them." Hawaiian families "will benefit from an alternative method to resolving conflict, aside from the Western ap Craig t. KojhM. Star-BulWin Frenchy DeSoto House strips gun control bill of power lines. "I'm a customer service agent, with the greatest boss in the world," she said.

"He is very supportive." She added that Kim, her sister and only sibling, is very special to her. "She's my best friend, and she's helped me through these six months of pageant i preparation and training." Yamamoto views her year as Cherry Blossom Queen as undoubtedly busy and exerting. "It will be very memorable; I know' that." It will include participation in similar festivals In San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles and a goodwill tour of Japan. Her parents, Lawrence and Carole Yamamoto, have been her chief supporters, Yamamoto said. "I think my dad should be wearing the crown; he's been the most excited," she added.

"My mother has been helpful from the very beginning, and she's been planning her wardrobe for each occasion and appearance. I think her gown for the Coronation Ball, happening on Saturday, will be just as stunning as mine." She also has strong affection for her maternal grandfather and the memory of her late grandpar- ents. "I just want to tell him that I love him and I did this for him and my other grandparents, and I hope I made them proud." Yamamoto was raised in Wahiawa, attending elementary and high school there. Now she lives in Mililani "I've gotten a tremendous amount of support from the people in both communities," she said. "I've heard from teachers and friends whom I haven't seen for many years, just wishing me good luck.

"It's just those phone calls and letters that gave me the self-confidence and determination to do my best." The Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Com-. merce sponsors the festival "From the first day I entered this festival, the Jaycees have made myself and the 14 other contestants feel like queens, like royalty," she said. "The many functions we attended have helped all of us grow as individuals and enriched the local community with the beauty of Japanese culture. I hope to represent the people of Hawaii, the Japanese community and my family with pride and honor." Harold Morse, Star-Bulletin 66 If the handgun ban passes this committee, the next Matson container ship leaving California will have more weapons on board than the warships that dock at Pearl Harbor. 99 Terrance Tom House Judiciary chairman, proach, which may be more harmful than helpful," Yadao, who is part native Hawaiian, said.

Circuit Judge Daniel Heely said the circuit judges "are very supportive of this practice it's got a lot of merit. Some judges have already started using hooponopono." He also supported an amendment that would give $143,000 each year for three years to Implement a demonstration project for training and referral in the First Circuit Court. State Rep. Ululani Beirne, a native Hawaiian, said she was uncomfortable with the Circuit Court's use of hooponopono. "The concept of hooponopono itself is meant to be in an ohana," she said.

"I just can't see transferring this concept (to the courts)." But Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Frenchy DeSoto strongly supported the measure. "When I was growing up I had no parents," she said. "I was raised in foster homes. Nowadays, many Hawaiian children are in the same situation as I was many years ago," she said, Hooponopono "is an opportunity for (young native Hawaiians) to feel good about themselves, not only making things right but making right with yourself DeSoto said. She said the court project would use hooponopono in custody disputes and domestic violence issues involving native Hawaiians.

She said 45 people would be trained to perform the court-requested services. "Are scissors any more lethal than a firearm?" she asked. Ted Baker, special assistant to Attorney General Robert Marks, said the new version doesn't address the problem of increasing firearms in Hawaii He said that the failure to require registration of all firearms would leave some 200,000 rifles and shotguns unaccounted for. Rey Graulty, Senate Judiciary chairman and a prime mover behind the Senate's gun control bills, said he believes that the amended bill could increase the availability of handguns in Hawaii, reversing the bills' original intent "This is going to be a boon for Hawaii Rifle Association," Graulty said. "It will increase membership in all gun clubs." The House version did score points with gun owners.

Dr. Maxwell Cooper, president of the 900-member Hawaii Rifle Association, said he was especially encouraged by the committee decision to drop the handgun ban. He said the new version attempts to address both the public's concerns about criminal use of firearms and the Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. But Cooper said his organization opposes any move to register future sales of rifles and shotguns because such requirements have never been shown to control criminal activity. The Associated Press contributed to this report A gun safety class is proposed to replace a plan to ban handguns By Rick Daysog Star-Bulletin The House Judiciary Committee yesterday took most of the firepower out of a proposal to ban virtually all handgun sales in the state.

In a move criticized by law enforcement officials and some lawmakers, but applauded by many gun owners, the committee replaced the proposed ban with a minimum two-hour gun safety training requirement for all handgun buyers. It also deleted a measure that would allow the seizure of vehicles in which loaded firearms were found, and altered a proposal that would require registration of all shotguns and rifles in Hawaii Under the new version, registration would be mandatory only for future purchases of long guns. House Judiciary Chairman Terrance 1 Tom said the state has the toughest gun control laws in the country, adding that any ban on handguns would encourage purchases over the short term. "If the handgun ban passes this committee, the next Matson container ship leaving California will have more weapons on board than the warships that dock at Pearl Harbor, as people who never seriously considered purchasing a handgun scramble to beat the governor's signature," Tom said. "If the measures became law tomorrow, there would still be an estimated 400,000 firearms in our state." During the meeting, Rep.

Cynthia Thielen labeled the two-hour gun safety training plan "a wimp course," prompting Tom to respond that it was "better than what we have right now, which is nothing." Thielen later said the Legislature last year increased to 1,500 hours the minimum training required to obtain a barber's license in Hawaii GORKY'S HAWAII Corky Trinidad is on leave. Hit cartoon trill resume upon his return..