Eye-catching mural painted over in Kailua-Kona

Eye-catching mural painted over in Kailua-Kona

KAILUA-KONA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) -

An eye-catching mural that went up on the Big Island over the weekend is now gone. Famous graffiti artist David Choe just finished the mural on Sunday, but it was painted over on Tuesday.

Choe said he escaped to Hawaii for a healing vacation after going through a dark period on the mainland. His latest creation lasted just 72 hours. He started spray painting a wall outside the Harley Davidson dealership in Kailua-Kona on Friday. The mural included island images like Bruddah Iz, an octopus and a humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

This art school dropout is worth an estimated $200-million after Facebook went public this year. That's because he chose to be paid in stock instead of cash for his artwork at the company's office when Facebook was just starting out.

As for the Big Island mural, Choe told Hawaii News Now in a statement, "Most people cannot afford my art, so I like to donate a lot of my time and art to charity and one of the best ways to give back is public murals. It's free and accessible to everyone."

"I think that's a really wonderful gesture, but I think, again, it's always a good idea to get public input first," said Debbie Baker, executive director of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District.

Choe said Harley Davidson approved his sketches and that he talked to a lot of locals before starting, but Baker said her organization received several calls about the unusual artwork in the historic neighborhood. The group did not lodge a complaint, but told callers to contact the Harley Davidson dealership.

"The overall concern seemed to be that installation didn't reflect the appropriate values of the village," Baker explained.

While many comments posted on Choe's Facebook page praised his creativity, he shared some of the complaints that led to his artwork being painted over: "Black, deathly morbid, ugly, sickly, unchristian, too ethnic." The manager of the Harley Davidson dealership told Hawaii News Now that the franchise president decided the mural had to be erased due to the complaints.

"I can understand the community's concern when they saw an art installation that they felt was inappropriate for that setting," said Baker.

Choe told Hawaii News Now that he is sorry if he offended anyone since that wasn't his intention.

"I can't think of another city I've ever painted in where it's been met with this kind of animosity. It's all been a very humbling experience for me. So I thank Hawaii for the gift of humility," he said.

Concert Fallout: Donovan removed as UH athletics director

Story by Rick Meiers for Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

University of Hawaii athletics director Jim Donovan has been placed on paid indefinite leave of absence, while authorities investigate a UH fundraiser involving entertainer Stevie Wonder.

On Tuesday the University of Hawaii canceled the Stevie Wonder benefit concert after learning the event wasn't authorized by Wonder or his representatives.

The Aug. 18 concert was to benefit the university's athletic department.

Rockne Freitas who is the current vice president of student affairs and community relations at UH will serve as acting athletics director.

Officilas also placed Stan Sheriff Center manager Rich Sheriff on an indefinite leave of absence. 

Here's additional information on this story:

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Honolulu (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii, apparently the victim of scammers, was forced to cancel a Stevie Wonder concert scheduled as a UH athletics fundraiser next month at Stan Sheriff Center. 

UH athletic officials had hoped the concert would raise up to $250,000 for the athletic program, which is in the red, but now UH could lose a $200,000 deposit it paid for the event that fell through. 

About 6,000 people bought seats since tickets went on sale to the public last Friday and UH expected a sellout of up to 11,000 concert goers. 

But then Monday, UH got word from Wonder's agent, Creative Artists Agency of Los Angeles, that the singer was not available for the August 18 concert at UH Manoa, even though tickets had already gone on sale. 

"The event was booked by an unauthorized third party without the knowledge or consent of Mr. Wonder's representatives.  They were very sorry to have to inform him of his unavailability," said UH Athletic Director Jim Donovan at a late-afternoon news conference Tuesday. 

The UH will refund all ticket holders, Donovan said.  Those who bought seats on-line or by phone will have their credit cards automatically refunded in about seven days.  People who purchased tickets from the Stan Sheriff Center box office can get a refund from the box office starting Wednesday. 

"Unfortunately, concerts don't happen.  It's becoming more and more of a regularity.  And that's what this case is.  The concert's not happening," said Donovan. "It would have been great if we could have raised some funds out of it, but everything's going to be refunded and we'll be fine." 

The UH is demanding a refund of $200,000 it paid as a deposit for the concert, "sent on behalf of a local promoter," Donovan said.  He identified the promoter as Bob Peyton, of BPE Productions. 

"Any cancellation was done without my agreement," Peyton said via email late Tuesday. Creative Artists Agency "has no role in this show and the UH administration was stampeded by a power LA agency."

Asked what happened, Peyton said, "The UH sent a direct wire transfer (of $200,000) from state funds to the booking agent's escrow account. I too wired $50,000 of my company's funds to the same account to hold my agreement with the UH."

"Because of the UH's untimely cancellation, they put my 50k in jeopardy too," Peyton said. 

Peyton claimed he signed a deal with a company called Epic-Talent, whom he referred to as "Stevie's agents on this matter."

At UH's Bachman Hall earlier Tuesday afternoon, Donovan met with UH President MRC Greenwood and UH Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple to discuss the situation.   

Asked if UH was going to be out of some money, Apple told Hawaii News Now, "I hope not.  I can't tell you, yet." 

Sources said Greenwood did not know about the concert deal before it was announced by UH athletic officials in late June and she was upset that it had fallen apart. 

Someone claiming to be Wonder's "European representative" claimed to have booked the deal, but the performer's only agent is Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, a source said. 

Privately, UH officials said this embarrassing episode could be a firing offense for Donovan, who oversaw the deal.  The five-year contract that pays him about $240,000 a year as athletic director expires next March. 

Asked who at UH authorized the concert deal and signed the contract, Donovan said, "I'm not going to comment on that at this time," and then he ended a news conference that lasted less than five minutes.

Commentary: The explanation for this massive mess up ought to be good. It's quite certain heads are going to roll, after the investigation into this matter has concluded. Returning refunds to unsuspecting fans is going to prove interesting as well, they should also receive a discount to a future event.

Ex-Maui firefighter sentenced for selling meth

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) - A former Maui firefighter has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling methamphetamine at the Kahului Fire Station.

Juanito Dudoit was sentenced Tuesday. He had been a firefighter for more than 20 years before resigning after he was arrested last year at the fire station.

According to prosecutors, the 49-year-old was selling meth to fellow firefighters at the station to support his own drug habit.

Deputy Prosecutor Tracy Jones says police found 2.5 grams of methamphetamine during searches of his sleeping quarters and locker. His girlfriend was in his sleeping module and told police they had been smoking meth together.

Jones says Dudoit told police he ingested meth before reporting to work.

The Maui News (http://ow.ly/caXtb ) reports Dudoit said in court he made bad decisions and needs treatment.

Commentary: This firefighter was suppose to be ready for duty in the event of an emergency, yet he was busted for selling drugs from the fire department he worked in. This man should get treatment for his problem and should be fired for selling drugs and endangering the lives of other people.

Honolulu ranked among top U.S. cities

Honolulu ranked among top U.S. cities

Honolulu is one of the best cities in the U.S. and Canada.

That’s according to a new list by Travel + Leisure magazine.

New York City topped the list, followed by Chicago,San Francisco, Charleston, South Carolina, New Orleans, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Vancouver,Savannah, Georgia, Quebec City, and Honolulu.

The list is based on reader suggestions to Travel + Leisure magazine.

Click here to see the list.

Commentary: It doesn't really surprise me at all to see the city of Honolulu on this list. With the current hit series Hawaii 5-0 on tv, it's made Hawaii an even more popular place to visit. 

HCC program grooms future tradesmen and women

HCC program grooms future tradesmen and women

Future Hawaii carpenters, welders, and plumbers are one step closer to securing jobs in the field.

63 high school students were recognized Thursdayfor their participation in a program geared toward shaping the future of Hawaii's tradesmen and women.

"They enroll in the regular building and construction classes at the DOE level and then we give them college credit in addition to their high school credit," Kenton Short of the Hawaii Community CollegeConstruction Academy said.

The high school 10th through 12th graders come from more than 15 Oahu schools and the program is also offered to neighbor island students as well.

"It is really valuable because it helps cause we have 23 programs here on campus. It also gives them the opportunity to explore different trades not only carpentry but welding, sheet metal as well," Short said.

This summer program also teaches students the basics of plumbing, architectural engineering and Computer-Aided Design technology.

"The bench at the carpenters is full yeah so we try to give them diversity as far as what they can choose," Short said. Diversity is encouraged. Females now account for more than 14% of the participants.

"There was only three of us in the first year and second year total its very rare," welder Jasmyne Garay said.

Garay was both a high school student participant and formerly enrolled at HCC after high school until she was picked up by a union. She says the training she received helped her hone her skills as a welder.

"You always measure twice, double check your work and then cut cause there is no pipe stretcher," Garay said.

UH cancer researchers make key discovery for mesothelioma

UH cancer researchers make key discovery for mesothelioma

Story by Teri Okita for Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Despite the holiday, work goes on at the University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center.

Just days ago, UH scientists specializing in the area of mesothelioma landed on the cover of a leading cancer research publication. All because of a protein called HMGB1.

UH's international team of researchers identified how HMGB1 contributes to the rare, aggressive mesothelioma cancer. Doctor Haining Yang has been studying it since 2005. "It's a protein that, in the beginning, we found is very critical for the development of the tumor," she explains.

Mesothelioma lines the lungs and abdomen. Most of the time, it's caused by asbestos, a mineral fiber, that we inhale. When asbestos goes in the lung, the first thing released is the HMGB1 molecule.

"That then kickstarts all the process, all the chronic inflammatory process, that drives those cells that have been damaged by the asbestos into growing into a tumor," says Dr. Michele Carbone, who heads up the mesothelioma team.

By discovering and targeting the protein, these scientists hope they'll help identify patients who are at higher risk, as well as try to suppress or delay a tumor's growth.

Doctors have already contacted them for clinical trials. "Some patients even approached us - asking us when are we going to do the clinical trial? They want to be in the clinical trial," says Dr. Yang.

This month's "Cancer Research" publication features their discovery - a big coup in the scientific world - and Dr. Carbone chalks it up to the team's dedication. "Today's July 4th. Look around here. Everybody's here. Why? Because there's a passion into it that it's unique," he says.

Carbone says Hawaii has some of the higher rates of asbestos in the country, in large part, because of materials once used at the Pearl Harbor shipyards.

About 3,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with mesothelioma, and it's estimated about 25 million Americans have been exposed to asbestos. Average survival rate is less than a year; however, if discovered in the early stages, survival rates increase to between five to 10 years.

Daniel expected to become a hurricane on Friday

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Daniel could become a hurricane on Friday.

The storm is located about 2,750 miles from Hawaii and 650 miles south-southwest from the southern tip of Baja, Calif.

At last check, the storm's maximum sustained winds was reportedly 70 miles per hour with higher gusts.

According to the NHC, Daniel is moving west at 10 to 15 miles per hour.

Forecasters say Daniel will likely be moving over cooler waters and into a more stable atmospheric environment which should result in weakening.

Daniel is expected to become a hurricane by Friday afternoon or evening.

Stay with HawaiiNewsNow.com for all of the latest updates.

You can track Daniel by clicking here.

You can also track Daniel by downloading our Weather Now mobile app for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Story by Rich Meiers, Sarah Yoro for Hawaii News Now