Puuhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Parks reopened to visitors Thursday. Visitors can access public areas, trails and roads immediately, while facilities and other public services are brought back online. Both parks had been closed since Oct. 1 because of a lapse in congressional appropriations.
National parks
reopen to visitors
Puuhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Parks reopened to visitors Thursday. Visitors can access public areas, trails and roads immediately, while facilities and other public services are brought back online. Both parks had been closed since Oct. 1 because of a lapse in congressional appropriations.
Puuhonua o Honaunau is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. daily.
Kaloko-Honokohau is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Proposed Maui,
Lanai fishing rules draw criticism
KAHULUI, Maui — Proposed limits for Maui and Lanai fisheries on popular nearshore fish are drawing criticism from those who argue the rules would disrupt Native Hawaiian cultural traditions.
A community meeting organized by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to explain the proposals drew about 100 people Wednesday at Maui Waena Intermediate School. The changes would involve bag and size limits for fish including goatfish, parrotfish and jacks.
“I learned how to fish from the old people. If I lose this, I lose my cultural rights,” said Haiku resident James Sagawinit.
Others agreed that the proposed rule changes threaten their cultural practices, the Maui News reported.
Makawao resident Maui Fernandez said his 14-year-old son is starting to learn how to throw a net. “How (am) I gonna tell him, ‘Sorry boy, you cannot keep your ulua. That’s just another part of your Hawaiian (heritage) you cannot do anymore,’” he said.
The department is holding meetings to explain the proposals, how they were developed and what the process will be going forward.
“There’s a need to better manage these fish resources; there’s a great amount of concern about perceived overharvest,” said Russell Sparks, an aquatic biologist with the department’s Division of Aquatic Resources.
His division received 128 surveys showing that 70 percent were supportive of the changes. But those at the meeting said they never heard of the surveys circulated three years ago and that decisions shouldn’t be based on the opinions of only 128 people.
Paia resident and lifelong fisherman Patrick Borge said the state should look at other ways to manage fish resources.
There are other meetings scheduled next month in Lanai City, Hana and Kahului.
Schatz campaign memo throws barbs
at Hanabusa
HONOLULU — A memo from U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz’s campaign is touting him as a progressive candidate who can win the Democratic primary for Hawaii’s senate race “regardless of ethnicity.”
“As Hawaii’s electorate has moved to the left, progressive candidates, regardless of ethnicity, have won every major contested Democratic primary race since 2002,” states the Schatz memo dated Oct. 14. “Although some pundits have theorized that ethnicity determines Democratic primaries, recent history clearly demonstrates that progressive ideology is the more dominant factor.”
Schatz, who is white and moved to Hawaii as a toddler, is facing a primary challenge from U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a Japanese-American. It was U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s dying wish to have Hanabusa succeed him. But Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Schatz, who was lieutenant governor.
Hanabusa campaign spokesman Peter Boylan said Hawaii voters don’t cast ballots “on identification with a particular ideology” but prefer candidates who “reflect their core values.”
“This election will come down to who voters believe will be the U.S. Senator, and who will provide the leadership that Hawaii needs now,” Boylan said. “It’s their first chance to have their voices heard on that, and we don’t think they will care about money or labels.”
The memo throws barbs at Hanabusa — from fundraising to endorsements to manpower.
“Hanabusa badly trails Schatz in fundraising and endorsements, and she has had a series of missteps evidencing that her campaign is not up to the rigors of a Senate race,” the memo said.
The memo is being circulated by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
“It’s clear that Senator Schatz has put together a superior campaign organization,” the committee said in a statement. “His impressive fundraising and endorsements are indicators of that.”
The memo concludes by highlighting Schatz’s youth over 62-year-old Hanabusa: “At 40 years old, Schatz has the promise of serving many years in the U.S. Senate and accumulating all important seniority for the constituents of Hawaii.”
California tourist sentenced to 40 years in Maui death
HONOLULU — A California man who pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend during a Maui vacation was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison.
Gerald Galaway Jr. was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter and 20 years for kidnapping, said Maui County Prosecuting Attorney John Kim. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
Galaway and attorney Celestial Cassman, both of Santa Cruz, Calif., were staying together at a Kaanapali hotel in 2011. During the trip, Cassman’s body, clad in a ripped bathing suit, was found near Nakalele Point in northern Maui after witnesses reported seeing her struggling with a man. When police arrived, the man took off running and jumped off a cliff into the ocean. Police rescued Galaway from a reef the following morning.
An autopsy determined Cassman, 35, died of asphyxiation. Her body was found under a tree in a rocky gulch area, with a black T-shirt rolled up around her neck.
He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted sexual assault and kidnapping but pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of manslaughter and kidnapping in a plea deal last year.
The Hawaii Paroling Authority will determine how many years he’ll serve before being eligible for parole.
Maui mayor announces he running for re-election
WAILUKU, Hawaii — Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is running for re-election, and the councilman who was considering running against him is bowing out.
Arakawa made the announcement Tuesday in the Lihikai School cafeteria.
Councilman Mike Victorino’s possible bid for mayor was considered Arakawa’s major obstacle, but Victorino said he hopes instead to be re-elected to the council’s Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu seat, the Maui News reported.
Victorino said he would have a good chance against Arakawa but decided the time isn’t right for a divisive campaign.
“That’s my way of saying, ‘Mr. Mayor, thank you. I give you this one, I’ll give you this one,’” Victorino said.
Victorino said he’s come to respect Arakawa.
Arakawa is seeking his third term as mayor. He won his first four-year term in 2002, defeating incumbent Mayor James “Kimo” Apana. He lost to Councilwoman Charmaine Tavares four years later but defeated her in 2010. If he wins next fall, he would be the first incumbent mayor to win re-election since Linda Lingle, who served from 1991 to 1999.
By local and wire sources