Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 3

5 Some may not be able to afford new city fees at community gardens. A-4 A blaze at a controversial Molokai site may have been arson. A-5 lias Page A 3 Monday Afternoon September 11, 1995 mm NEWSWATCH AAA Prison escapee Lowery remains at large An escapee from the Oahu Community Correctional Center remained at large today. Ronald Lowery, 27, of Waianae is considered dangerous and possibly armed. He was awaiting trial on charges of attempted second-degree murder when he apparently escaped from the jail on Friday.

He was noticed missing after a 10:30 p.m. head count. Lowery is described as 5-foot-ll, 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was arrested in late December after allegedly firing a sawed-off shotgun at another man who had sold him fake drugs. Reported by Star-Bulletin staff oycoo Jcreocii prooucis, nuclear' protesters here urge $500,000 grant allows leeward clinic to expand The money has allowed the facility to quadruple in size and service A call for independence of native peoples is also made at the gathering independent of criminal action." Poisbeal said France did not release results of a study on cancer rates related to nuclear testing in French Polynesia.

Twin goals in Tahiti are an end to nuclear testing and independence from France, he said. "Hopefully, the boycott will work." Audience members pointed out the United States also conducted nuclear tests in the Pacific in the past, and some accused the American and French military and intelligence services of oppressing and victimizing Pacific peoples. in France, she said. The French make all the decisions on nuclear testing, she said. "They don't ask whether we're going to accept it, whether we approve it." The nuclear blast last Tuesday was reportedly the 176th nuclear test in French Polynesia since 1968.

"Many of the workers have been radiated and sick as a result," Alailima said. "We don't condone the violence in Tahiti, but we sure can understand the anger and frustration. What is more powerful than guns and bombs is the resolve of these people to be free, chel Poisbeal, both originally from Tahiti, were joined by Kil-ali Alailima, of Samoan descent, in denouncing French testing before about 40 people at the First Unitarian Church. Everyone who consumes fish from those waters is affected, Alailima said. She and others said the fish are contaminated by radiation from nuclear detonations and related cancer rates are high in French Polynesia.

"Apparently the French feel that we are dispensable as a people," she said. Nuclear testing doesn't go on By Helen Altonn Star-Bulletin rAIANAE residents got to TniTf By Harold Morse Star-Bulletin A group of Hawaii residents with Tahitian and Pacific ties yesterday called for boycotting French goods because of French nuclear tests on Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia. The protesters also called for the independence of native peoples. Ijeva Bambridge and Mi gether 23 years ago and Ml plugged a gap in health services for the area's i. puiM.

p.pi..i.i.,ii,., II 3 I Hawaii gets a hand er, thumb Elaine Glover and colleagues from Hawaiian Trust and Bank of Hawaii hail passing downtown motorists this morning, toting "Thumbs Up Hawai'i" signs. The sign-waving by business, government and labor employees is part of a state campaign encouraging people to think positively about Hawaii. Photo By Dean Sensui, Star-Bulletin ta iWv i8. M' Mmm POLITICAL FILE By Star-Bulletin staff AAA Legislators will consider judge nominees Although the Senate will be meeting in special session Sept. 20-21 to consider Russell Blair and Diana Lynn Warrington for state District judgeships, it will not be acting on two gubernatorial appointments.

Senate President Norman Mizuguchi said confirmation hearings on the appointments of Sam Callejo former Honolulu deputy managing director as state comptroller, and Merle Kelai a Matson Navigation Co. vice president as a state land commissioner can wait until next year's regular legislative session. But action on the Judicial Selection Commission's nominations of former state Sen. Blair and part-time Family Court Judge Warrington can't wait because under the constitutional amendment that voters approved last year, the Senate has 30 days to act on District judgeship nominations, Mizuguchi said. "We're taking our responsibility to heart," said Mizuguchi, noting that the Senate had fought hard to get confirmation authority over state District judges.

The Senate already had the power to confirm nominations to the state Supreme, Intermediate and Circuit courts. KAWANANAKOA WEDS: State Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa, 33, married former real estate saleswoman Elizabeth Broun, 35, over the weekend on Lanai. "She never wanted to be in the public eye. But she wants to support me in my endeavors," said Kawananakoa, a first-term Republican lawmaker whose district includes Nuuanu, Pacific Heights and Punchbowl.

Broun, a native of Jamaica, has lived in New York and California. She moved to Hawaii when she was 17. She plans to become a naturalized American citizen, Kawananakoa said. He said he was introduced to Broun four or five years ago by mutual friends. An attorney, Kawananakoa received his law degree from the University of Hawaii.

He also attended UCLA and Punahou School. LIBERTARIANS MEET: Libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne was keynote speaker Saturday at the party's annual convention at the Ala Moana Hotel. Browne, an investment adviser, has written eight books, including "How I Found Freedom in an Unf ree World" and "You Can Profit from a Monetary Crisis." Also addressing the convention was Honolulu attorney Jack Schweigert, who spoke on legalizing marijuana. The Hawaii Libertarian Party has about 65 members. It has yet to win a Hawaii election.

Poltticol File is a weekly compilation of news, notes and anecdotes on government and politics. families by starting the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Now, their dreams of an expanded clinic are taking shape with a $500,000 donation from the James and Abigail Campbell Foundation. "I cannot think of a better memorial to my great grandfather and great grandmother than a clinic in their name in an area where affordable and more accessible health services are greatly needed," said Foundation President Jim Growney. It wasn't an easy grant to make financially because the Campbell Foundation is a small organization averaging $250,000 in grants per year, Growney said.

"But the family felt that this would be a good way for us to help the greatest number of people." The funds enable the Nanakuli Satellite Clinic renamed the James and Abigail Campbell Clinic to expand from 1,000 to 4,000 square feet and from three to 12 examination rooms, Health Center Associate Administrator Joyce O'Brien said at a dedication ceremony last week. She said the clinic "represents a vision of valuing and having compassion for the needs of a community, of its families and of the health and well being of its families." Where it previously had one full-time physician serving about 20 patients daily, the clinic now employs four full-time physicians who can serve about 80 patients per day. Multiple, comprehensive services are provided, from primary health to emergency and dental care, preventive, outreach and case management services, health career training and more all focusing on patient and community needs, O'Brien said. Dr. Kenneth Thourson, the clinic's Senior physician, noted that only 4 12 years ago it occupied less than 1,000 feet in a private pediatrician's office.

Much of the space now used by the clinic was a video-game room where loud rock roll music was played, he said. "Verna, our office manager, had to call them regularly to ask them to turn the music down so I could hear ur patients' heartbeats." With expansion of the facility and physicians, more services can be offered to more people, Thourson said. Special services have been designed to assist a large majority of Hawai-ians living on the Waianae Coast, he said. "Because of our small size, we have a reputation for personalized service," Thourson said. "It is our goal to Maintain this feeling of ohana." The clinic's expansion is part of a Health Center capital campaign of $3.8 million to "survive health care reform." Grants include $800,000 from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to build a laboratory and dental building and $500,000 from the Queen Emma Foundation to build a Health Pavilion at the center's Waianae campus for native Hawaiian health services.

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center Administrator Richard Bettini and two board members missed the dedication because they were attending a National Community Health Center conference on the mainland. In prepared remarks, Bettini said the Campbell Foundation donation will allow the center to respond to pressures from the state's new QUEST health care program. The Waianae center, serving about 10,000 QUEST clients, is the largest provider of primary health care to that population in Hawaii, Bettini noted. Consequently, he said, the clinic needs more medical facilities and services. "As a community health center, our mission is to serve everyone, regardless of their health status or income level, and the Campbell Foundation donation enables us to continue providing for this unique patient base," he said.

Hamakua Ditch in dire need of face -lift If ditch is not restored soon, it may be lost ag official says Maparea I L-V 1.: i 1 BIa Start of ditch, island Waipio Valley Paauilo the diversified crops) being irrigated anywhere," he said. Shioji said other crops need regular water and all crops need water during long dry spells. But there's no assurance anyone will get the water. Pendered said repair estimates are as high as $20 million, but $5 million to $6 million is more likely. The federal government will pay for half, but the county says it can't pay much toward the other half and the state's ability to contribute is also doubtful, he said.

The ditch is envisioned as serving 2,500 acres. "That was very likely a figure that was just pulled out of the air," Pendered said. The state presently has just 509 acres intended for agriculture. Bishop Estate owns most of the land along the ditch. "They're not ready to commit to ditch restoration," Pendered said.

"I think they have some reservation whether the ditch is needed for much of the agriculture above the valley." Pendered added, "Nobody has a good idea who owns the ditch." Even if Bishop Estate does not own it, the estate's cooperation would be needed to restore it, he said. Vlnt Blackburn, sur-Buiictm By Rod Thompson Big Island correspondent HONOKA Hawaii The state has counted on the Lower Hamakua Ditch to irrigate new agriculture following the loss of Hamakua Coast sugar, but the future of the ditch is in doubt The ditch is in "lousy" shape, said state agriculture official William Pendered. "If the ditch is not restored soon, it may be lost forever." Engineer Rich Bader, who surveyed the 25-mile ditch eight months ago, said it was in bad shape then and is much worse now. A draft federal environmental impact statement on ditch restoration is expected this month, with a state environmental study to follow in October. The term "ditch" masks its complexity.

Built in 1910 following the Upper Hamakua Ditch of 1907, it starts with 8.9 miles of tunnels carved in the rock walls of Waipio Valley, collecting wa- mittee member. Shioji created a stir at a recent conference on "The Waters of by accusing it of being slanted toward keeping water in the valley instead of delivering it to former sugar lands. Waipio taro grower Chris Rathbun had said taro is expanding "dramatically" in the valley. Taro growers need water in dry times and diversified agriculture outside the valley has little need for it, he said. "I don't know of papaya (one of ter from four streams.

Outside Waipio it includes more than 40 smaller tunnels and about 50 flumes. It once had a consistent flow of 30 million gallons per day, said historian Corol Wilcox. It now leaves the valley with less than 20 million gallons and leaks so badly that halfway along the coast it's almost dry, Bader said. Diversified agriculture needs 17.2 million gallons per day, said Bob Shioji, a dracena orchid grower and ditch steering com- CORRECTION The guide to prime-time television shows that ran Saturday was incorrect it was for programs to run this Saturday, Sept. 16.

The Star-Bulletin apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the.