Samoan senator sues to halt Oahu fete

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa » A lawmaker in American Samoa has filed a lawsuit to stop the U.S. territory from spending money on Samoan Heritage Week in Hawaii without legislative approval.

Territorial Sen. Velega Savali Jr. said Gov. Togiola Tulafono asked the Samoa legislature for $50,000 for the second annual event last week, just a day before lawmakers went into a four-week recess.

The event is set for Aug. 8-14 at Keehi Lagoon on Oahu.

There was no immediate response from the Governor’s Office or the attorney general’s office over the lawsuit filed Wednesday in the territory’s High Court.

Savali asked the court for a temporary restraining order to stop Tulafono from spending the money without lawmakers’ approval.

Woman with isle ties gets court nod

SAN FRANCISCO » Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated the daughter of a plantation worker from Hawaii to serve as California’s next chief justice.

Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, 50, of the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento would become the first Filipina-American to lead the state’s judiciary if confirmed.

Her confirmation would also give the California Supreme Court a female majority for the first time and leave the Supreme Court with one Democrat, Justice Carlos Moreno. The governor formally introduced Cantil-Sakauye yesterday.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Radio show upsets mayor

Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares is demanding an apology from former Mayor Alan Arakawa over his comments during his radio show.

In a statement released Wednesday, Tavares said Arakawa suggested it would be easy to harm a county official.

According to a transcript of Arakawa’s July 15 show on KAOI, Arakawa criticized security measures he said prevented constituents from easily accessing Council and mayoral offices at the county building in Wailuku.

He added, "If someone wanted to shoot the mayor when you get out of the county building and you go to your car, the parking lot’s wide open."

Tavares says she was "stunned by the cavalier comments" of Arakawa.

Arakawa is among 10 candidates challenging Tavares’ re-election bid.