State 5/29

Hawaiian hawk recovers, released on Big Island

HONOLULU — A wildlife facility on the Big Island says an endangered Hawaiian hawk that was found with a bullet lodged in its chest last month has been treated and released.

Ann Goody from the Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary says the bird made a complete recovery after undergoing surgery. She says the bird was released on Monday at the sanctuary and perched in a nearby tree.

Goody says the bird was the second wounded hawk found in the span of six weeks on the Big Island. Both animals were apparently shot by a pellet gun, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Goody says the Hawaiian hawk has significance in Hawaiian culture and is protected by federal and state law.

Guard withdraws Kauai range danger zone expansion

LIHUE, Kauai — The Hawaii Army National Guard is withdrawing a plan to expand an ocean danger zone surrounding a rifle range in southwest Kauai.

The Garden Island reported Tuesday that a spokesman for the Hawaii Army National Guard says a project manager mistakenly increased the size of the area of Pacific Ocean to be off-limits during target practice at Kekaha Range Facility.

The Army Corps of Engineers is rescinding its public notice for the plan at the request of the Guard, Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Charles Anthony said.

“A project manager had increased the size (of the danger zone) beyond what we had seen in the earlier drafts,” Anthony said. “We will be making up a proposal with a much smaller footprint.”

Public notice for an expanded zone of 6 miles wide of ocean waters was posted May 9. The danger zone during live target practice has been roughly 1 mile wide for decades.

The proposal drew questions and concerns from community members through open public comments. Part of the criticism is over whether the range is too close to the beach.

Fisherman and surfer Greg Holzman said he’s happy to hear that the proposal has been revoked. He said he wants discussion to continue on whether the location is appropriate.

“We’re all just looking for a safer range,” Holzman said. “We just have different ideas on how to accomplish it.”

The range was built after the National Guard bought the 68-acre property in 1957.

When asked whether the Guard has considered moving the range, Anthony said there are limited places to put it.

“Once you have an established range, it’s probably better to stay there than to try and find a parcel somewhere else,” Anthony said.

4 firms seek to operate Hawaii Convention Center

HONOLULU — Four firms are competing to operate the state-owned Hawaii Convention Center with the aim of boosting business at the 15-year-old facility.

SMG Hawaii, which has managed the $350 million center since before its 1998 opening, is among four groups that submitted proposals to the tourism authority by the May 21 deadline. HTA officials refused to release the names of the other three until after the contract is awarded in July, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The five-year contract will run from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2018.

Part of the problem is increased competition since the convention center was built.

“A lot of meeting space has been added to the U.S. market in that time, so we have to take a look at how we can enhance the use of the center and take it to the next level,” Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney said.

While the center has won many facility awards and an A-plus review from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organizers in 2011, it has struggled to reach targets. Since 2002 the center just once met its annual goal of 700,000 room nights. That was in 2005 when it generated 706,489 room nights. Last year, 356,515 room nights were attributed to the center.

While the center has generated an average of $540 million in visitor spending annually over 10 years, the return to the state treasury has been disappointing. For every tax dollar spent on the center, only $1.40 in tax revenue has been generated.

Convention center interim General Manager Randy Tanaka said SMG Hawaii, whose contract with HTA expires Dec. 31, is well suited to continue in its role.

“We are seasoned in this game,” said Tanaka, who also served as chief operating officer for the APEC Hawaii Host Committee, which coordinated the 2011 conference that brought President Barack Obama and leaders from more than 20 nations to the state.

“If you look at our track record and our customer response and sensitivity to the culture and the aspirations of this marketplace, we have done an outstanding job.”

SMG Hawaii is part of Philadelphia-based SMG.

McCartney said a fresh look should be given to how the center can be used more effectively.

“In the next few years, I’d like to see our overall meetings, conventions and incentives business grow to 10 percent and our visitor spending grow to around $1 billion,” McCartney said.

One aim is to boost business travel, which accounted for just 5 percent of Hawaii’s visitor arrivals. Industry leaders would like to see that percentage double.

“I think we have to try new marketing strategies,” Hawaii Tourism Authority board member Rick Fried said.

Woman charged in Makaha shooting

MAKAHA, Oahu — A 32-year-old woman has been charged with attempted murder and robbery after a woman was shot in the head in Makaha.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Mary Iwa Brewer was arrested Saturday night in Kapolei for the May 19 shooting that injured a 40-year-old woman. Police say the victim was in her car when Brewer brandished a handgun, demanded money and tried to steal items from the victim.

They say the handgun went off in the struggle. Brewer was charged Sunday.