Schatz in Asia to seek energy partnerships
Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz is in Asia this week, meeting with industrial leaders to discuss partnerships in dealing with clean energy for the state and expanding a green economy.
The weeklong trip, which began Saturday, will strengthen alliances made during last fall’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu to help make Hawaii a leading incubator for the global clean energy industry, Schatz said.
The lieutenant governor said it is important to build on those relationships to help Hawaii reach its goal of becoming 70 percent energy independent by 2030.
Wildlife art sought for state’s game stamps
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is looking for artwork to feature on the Hawaii wildlife conservation stamp and game bird stamp.
The contest for the wildlife conservation stamp calls for art entries depicting any game mammal, while the game bird stamp is looking for entries depicting specific game birds.
The conservation stamp is required to validate Hawaii hunting licenses. A separate game bird stamp is required for licenses to hunt game birds. They are also collected by wildlife stamp collectors.
Contest information can be found at www.hawaii.gov/ dlnr/dofaw. Entries must be received by May 7.
Pope to bless Damien piece by Maui artist
The pope will bless a sculpture of St. Damien by Maui artist Dale Zarrella in Vatican City on Wednesday.
Zarrella and high-ranking clergy from the Diocese of Honolulu will attend the blessing by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Maui News reported that the 3-foot-tall, 90-pound bronze piece depicting a young Damien will become part of the Vatican collection. Zarrella says a second statute will be installed and blessed at a Vatican City seminary school.
Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva’s visit to Rome will include a report to the pope on the state of the diocese.
Joseph de Veuster, a Belgian priest who became known as Father Damien, is known for caring for Hansen’s disease patients banished to Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokai in the late 1800s. He became a saint in 2009.
Woman arrested on 6 counts of false tax claims
Federal agents arrested Hawaii island resident Sherilyn K. Wahinekapu on Monday morning on charges that she filed six fraudulent tax returns, falsely claiming refunds totaling more than $2 million, for tax years 2006 through 2008.
Wahinekapu, 60, was arraigned Monday and pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
A federal grand jury indicted her April 12 on six counts of making a false claim against the government. Trial is scheduled to begin June 13.
Florence T. Nakakuni, U.S. attorney for Hawaii, said Wahinekapu knowingly claimed false refund amounts ranging from $40,941 to $1,652,187.
Each count carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
