Last August police found 34-year-old Dawn Gambsky’s decomposing body buried three- to four-feet deep on the property she shared with her husband at 16-1606 37th Avenue in Puna’s Orchidland subdivision. This week police have announced the case has been reclassified from a coroner’s inquest to a murder.

“Friends”, not Dawn Gambsky’s husband, Alexander, reported Dawn missing in July 2008, after family members had not seen or heard from her since January. Alexander Gambsky told police he thought his wife left him and had a girlfriend who told police they started being “romantic” approximately Jan. 10, 2008.  The girlfriend started living with Alexander Gambsky by February.   Read the rest of this entry »

I am compelled to write, as I reflect on the story I wrote this week about 18-month-old Kendon and 10-year-old Clayson, cousins from Puna diagnosed with leukemia in the same week.

Maybe I’m so inclined to write about these guys because I have a relative, who would not appreciate me divulging their identity, who had Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as a child.  For some reason, this relative wants to keep their ALL experience a secret; as if it is something to feel ashamed of.  Personally, I see the fact that my relative overcame the illness as triumph, and I am so thankful that my relative is alive today as an adult. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s official. The Department of Health announced today that Hawaii Island has its first two cases of swine flu. 

“The two patients from the Big Island are school-aged children who are not attending school at this time,” health officials told the Honolulu Advertiser. “One acquired the illness while traveling in another state and the other had contact with a confirmed case, health officials said.” O’ahu, meanwhile, has added 12 more cases to its list, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 58.

The swine flu, also referred to H1N1, is a virus thought to be a mutation of four known strains of the infuenza A virus subtype H1N1: one endemic in humans, one endemic in birds and two endemic in pigs, or swine. Read the rest of this entry »

Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida has pointed to his latest internet posting in which he discusses a number of timely issues — former County Councilman Stacy Higa’s lawsuit, county worker furloughs, even the tragic death of 17-month-old Aliyah Braden at the hands of a drunk driver.

“A very sad story was reported in our local media over the past weekend, where a one year-old child was killed in a traffic collision,” Lincoln Ashida wrote. ”The news report says the driver of a pickup truck ran a red light and collided into a vehicle occupied by the one year-old child.  The Police are attributed as saying ‘speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.’  The driver of the pickup truck is reported to have a DUI conviction from 21 years ago. The driver of the pickup truck was arrested, but not immediately charged and released pending further investigation.” Read the rest of this entry »

Police say Aliyah Braden was killed by a drunk driver on Saturday, May 23, 2009.

It’s taken me several days to write about the death of 17-month-old Aliyah Braden because I’ve been processing her death as I care for my own 1-year-old, and I’m also wondering how not to sound too judgment and critical of someone who hasn’t yet had her day in court.

Aliyah Braden, of Captain Cook, was headed to Fun Factory with her mother Mayvelyn  in a four-door 2004 Honda Civic Fun Saturday evening when a pickup allegedly driven by Valereen Kaleohano-Knittle, also of Captain Cook, struck them.  Aliyah was pronounced dead at the Kona Community Hospital at 8:23 p.m. 

Police arrested 49-year-old Valereen Kaleohano-Knittle for manslaughter, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, reckless driving and inattentive driving.   Read the rest of this entry »

(Media release) — Hawai’i County Mayor Billy Kenoi announced today the initiation of a joint project with the County Board of Ethics to review county operations and submit major amendments to the County Code of Ethics.

Recent local media articles have called into question the appropriateness of the conduct of some county employees.  Although many of these issues, such as the sale/lease back of a county bulldozer, the Saddle Road tack coat dispute, and most recently the county contract for drywell cleaning, predate Mayor Kenoi’s administration, the Mayor emphasized the need for proactive measures to address conflicts of interest and even the appearance of impropriety. Read the rest of this entry »

A woman in her 20s was critically injured and a female infant died in a crash involving a pickup and a Honda Civic shortly after 7 p.m., Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the intersection of Kuakini Highway and Lako Street. The woman and infant were extricated from the Honda and were transported to Kona Community Hospital, where the infant reportedly died.

The occupants of the pickup were not injured. The cause of the accident is under investigation, however authorities have said alcohol may have played a factor in the crash.

By Isaac Kawika Nahakū‘elua 

One early morning in mid July of 2004, my outpost, which is probably still situated outside the town of Orgun-E in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan, got hit with enemy 105 mm Russian rocketts. 

Within a week of the enemy rocket attack, my platoon was sent on a three- to four-day “search and destroy” mission to find those responsible for the rocket attacks on our outpost. 

During the mission, my platoon took a break and sat under some pine trees.  As I sat there resting, feelings of tranquilty and serenity took over me, diminishing any pain I felt. Suddenly, I was quicky jolted back into the reality of war by the advancing sounds of the incoming enemy’s 62 mm mortars.

A Memorial Day Special Feature

Within the transition from my tranquil state to one of war and panic,  I noticed that under a kind of beauty, there also exists a kind of madness.  Read the rest of this entry »

Curtis Narimatsu is a lifelong resident of Hilo who writes about the forgotten past such as the old plantation days & untold heroes.)

Leadership 

Earl Finch, 1915-1965, died a broken man, in spirit/body.  Where was the 442 leadership to take care of our boys’ savior/messiah?  Only Uncle Willy Thompson’s 2nd Batt. hdqtr. co. puts flowers on Earl’s grave every Memorial Day.  — Curt

Self-Applause

Uncle Willy Thompson‘s invocation as 442 State Prexy in a recent message to members expresses that “our keynote speaker was retired Major Gen. Antonio Taguba — we were humbled to hear him describe Tom Brokaw’s definition of the Greatest Generation as epitomized by the Nisei warriors of WWII.”   Sheez….   Did anyone else besides Uncle Willy applaud forgotten prophets Earl Finch or John Tsukano long after the war was over? Read the rest of this entry »

Big Island Elvis at the recent Pahoa Springtime Jamm.

See Big Island Elvis rehearse with his band at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie in Kea’au at 7 p.m., Friday, June 12, 2009.  

Big Island Elvis and his musical entertainment will be rehearsing for a Puna Community Medical Center fundraiser to be held at the Akebono Theater on June 27, 2009.  Tickets for the fundraiser at the Akebono are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

The cover charge for rehearsal at the Eagles on June 12, meanwhile, will be $5 and include “super low” prices on food and beverages.  The Eagles Aerie is located at 16-111 Opukahaia St., off Highway 130 across from the Hawaii island Human Society.  For more information, call (808) 968-7105 or (8080 965-2029 or email dannix54@aol.com.

(Media release) — The Hawai’i Police Department is searching for a 65-year-old Hilo woman who has been missing since Friday, May 15, 2009.

Kyung Suk Lee was last seen in Hilo on the morning of May 15. She was scheduled to fly to Kauai that day. Her car was found in the parking lot at the Hilo airport but she never reached her destination on Kauai.

She is described as 5-foot-1, 130 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police ask that anyone who knows her whereabouts to call Officer Donovan Kohara at (808) 961-2213, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Mahalo to blogger and technologist Damon Tucker for sending a request to Councilman Dominic Yagong and for Dominic Yagong answering to the call for live streaming of Hawaii County Council meetings.  (Damon Tucker’s posting follows.)  I’ve been chanting that mantra for some time now (here, here and here).  Jubilation to be reading what Dominic Yagong said in an email to County Clerk Kenny Goodenow requesting the cost for live-streaming council members’ meetings: “In today’s hectic world, we need to utilize technology that will provide the most convenient service to our island constituency.”

Hear ye! I sure hope they can find the money; it will reportedly cost at least $12,000.  To me, it is worth it and will be a tremendous move in favor of open and transparent government. It will be interesting to see, if not $12,000, how much County Clerk Kenny Goodenow says the live-streaming council meetings will cost, and where in the budget they find the money to pay for that.  Read the rest of this entry »

(Media release) — Island youth are invited to join cultural practitioners, farmers, hunters, and gatherers at the Lihikai Hawaiian Cultural Learning Center in Keaukaha next to Onekahakaha Beach Park in Hilo from Wednesday, June 10, 2009 through Sunday, June 14, 2009. 

Participants will learn about producing their own food at “Hoea Ea II: Return to Freedom,” a food sovereignty conference focused on sustainability through cultural practice.

During the conference, hands-on workshops, speakers, and service learning will teach the importance of working toward food security in the islands of Hawaii. “An interruption of food shipments from overseas at any time would cause hunger and hardship; less so for those who have cultivated local food sources,” said Keoni Turalde, one of the events’ organizers.

At Hoea Ea II, experts will share Hawaiian and world gardening and aqua cultural techniques including raising kalo, fish and pigs; making sausage; composting; building box garden beds and more. Read the rest of this entry »

Kalani Honua Oceanside Retreat is the setting for “The Dance Of The Peril,” a lecture by Professor Jacob Miller to be offered the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, and Sept. 2).

 Jacob Miller, who has 25 years experience practicing and teaching colon hydrotherapy, is currently working on his book, “Choices of Wisdom.” He has studied to be a naturopath and is a certified lymphatic therapist and does biological healing using light energy therapy, from ultraviolet light and low level laser technology, anal dilation, and the Chinese art of Gua Sha (a form of Acupuncture utilizing the tusk of the water buffalo and ear candling).  He has also studied advanced psychology with Dr. Martha Frank, who studied with Dr. Sigmond Freud and Victor E. Frankel.

From his lecture, you will learn to purify the body, elevate the mind, refine emotions and liberate your soul. You will learn about food, digestion, cause and effect, “the second brain,” men versus women, hygiene, orifices, PH levels, organic versus chemical, drugs and sex, genetics and culture.

Donations to the lecture are to benefit the Pahoa High School volleyball team.  For more information, call (808) 965-0955 or email prof.jacobmiller@choicesofwisdom.com.