Japanese royal couple on first official US visit

HONOLULU — Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are making their first official visit together to the U.S.

The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands.

Akishino and Kiko laid a white wreath with peace lilies on Monday at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in remembrance of soldiers who died during World War II and the Vietnam War.

The couple was accompanied by cemetery director James Horton, and Adm. Phil Davidson, who became last week the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, the American military's Pacific headquarters.


They also laid a second white wreath at Ehime Maru Memorial in downtown Honolulu's Kakaako Waterfront Park, which commemorates Japanese lives lost when a U.S. submarine collided with a Japanese ship in 2001.

On Tuesday, the royal couple will plant a tree in Thomas Square, visit the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, and attend dinner with Gov. David Ige at his residence, Washington Place.

The Hawaiian-inspired menu features local ingredients with Japanese touches, such as oysters from Kualoa Farm served with yuzukosho, a Japanese condiment typically made of chilis, yuzu peel and salt.

Other dishes include pipikaula short rib with meat from Kauai, a throwback to a spiced treat similar to beef jerky eaten by Hawaiian cowboys, and steamed moi, called "the king's fish," as only royalty were allowed to eat it, according to Cindy McMillan, a spokeswoman for Ige. The ogo, or seaweed, relish for the fish will contain herbs from the Washington Place garden.

The royals will also taste poke with locally-caught ahi tuna and feast on a dessert of miso-pecan ice cream -- all dishes created by Honolulu chef Chris Kajioka of city restaurants Vintage Cave and Senia.
Emperor Akihito announced in December that he would abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne at the end of April 2019, after reigning for 30 years. His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, is expected to succeed the following day. Akishino, 52, would then take on the role of crown prince.

Akihito has one daughter, Sayako Kuroda, who married a commoner and gave up her title of princess in 2005. Women are not allowed to ascend the throne.

The royal couple visited Brazil in 2015 and Chile in 2017 to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

source: philstar.com

12 US Marines missing after chopper collision off Hawaii

HONOLULU -- High waves for the next several days will hamper the search for 12 Marines missing at sea after two helicopters collided near the island of Oahu in Hawaii, US Coast Guard officials said on Friday.

Two Coast Guard cutters and several Coast Guard aircraft were searching, along with two US Navy warships and local police and fire department helicopters, the Coast Guard said.

A safety zone has been set up from the shoreline that matches up with the accident site to 8 miles (13 km) out to sea, the Coast Guard said.

"We've seen debris through the entire area," said Lieutenant Scott Carr, a Coast Guard spokesman. He added the high surf was expected to last until at least Tuesday.

The CH-53E helicopters, belonging to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from the Marine Corps Air Station at Kaneohe Bay, were reported to have collided just before midnight local time, Coast Guard spokeswoman Sara Mooers said.

The wide-ranging search for the Marines was hampered by high surf and poor visibility from rain storms. The National Weather Service warned that a northwest swell would bring 35 foot to 45 foot (11 meter to 14 meter) surf to the area through Friday.

"It's very difficult to find things right now," Carr said.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted debris in the water off the town of Haleiwa on the north shore of Oahu but they did not find passengers.

The debris field spanned more than 7 miles off the coast, the Coast Guard said.

"Thoughts & prayers are with our Marines & their families in Hawaii as search efforts continue," General Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, said in a message on Twitter.

No distress call was issued by either aircraft. Authorities were notified by a man standing on the beach who saw a fireball over the ocean after seeing the helicopters flying in that area, Carr said at a news conference.

source: interaksyon.com

Hawaii begins debating gay marriage

HONOLULU -- Hawaii started debating on Monday a proposal that would make the popular wedding and honeymoon destination the 15th US state to legalize same-sex marriage, repealing a voter-approved constitutional amendment that banned gay matrimony.

Democratic Governor Neil Abercrombie appeared as the first witness in support of the measure with more than 1,800 people signed up to address the state Senate Judiciary Committee during a special session called by the governor.

The debate this week in Hawaii, which allows civil unions, comes at a time of increasing momentum for gay marriage in the courts, at the ballot box and statehouses across the country.

The governor stressed that the proposal was crafted to address opponents' concerns that legalizing gay marriage would infringe on religious freedom. The proposal exempts clergy and churches from having to perform same-sex marriages.

"Our whole focus has been on trying to accommodate the First Amendment here with respect to people's religious rights, and that's been done in good faith," Abercrombie said.

Hearings in the state House of Representatives are scheduled to open on Thursday.

Democrats hold an overwhelming majority over Republicans in both chambers -- 24-1 in the Senate and 44-7 in the House -- virtually assuring passage of a gay marriage bill.

Momentum

The special session was originally expected to last five days, but there is already talk of the legislature taking two weeks to complete its work.

Abercrombie, who served more than two decades in the US House of Representatives before running for governor in 2010, signed a same-sex civil unions bill into law two years ago and has since been a vocal proponent of gay marriage.

His immediate predecessor, Republican Linda Lingle, vetoed a civil unions bill in 2010.

Just one year ago, only six states and the District of Columbia recognized same-sex marriage. That number has more than doubled since then, due in most cases to litigation over the issue.

Maine, Maryland and Washington state became the first three states to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples by popular vote with passage of ballot initiatives last November.

In June, the US Supreme Court forced the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where such unions are legal and upheld a lower-court decision throwing out a state ban on gay matrimony in California.

And last week New Jersey Governor Chris Christie dropped his legal opposition to gay marriage, making his state the 14th to legalize same-sex weddings.

The New Mexico Supreme Court is expected to decide by year's end whether same-sex marriage should be recognized statewide rather than county by county, and the Illinois legislature is also considering the issue.

source: interaksyon.com

Hawaii governor calls for debate on legalizing gay marriage

LOS ANGELES -- Hawaii's governor on Monday called a special legislative assembly next month to debate a bill legalizing gay marriage, in what would make it the 14th US state to do so.

Lawmakers in the Pacific island state will meet from October 28 to discuss a bill "to address the issue of marriage equity," said Governor Neil Abercrombie, who in 2011 signed into a law legalizing same-sex civil unions.

"The purpose of the Act as stated in the bill is to recognize marriages between individuals of the same sex ... and to address questions of equity, civilly and otherwise," he said.

"I've spent my entire life, politically, trying to find what's the fairest thing to do," he tweeted a short time later.

Attorney General David Louis said that, if the bill is approved, Hawaii could start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples from November 18.

Thirteen US states plus the capital Washington, a federal district, allow gay marriage.

In June, the US Supreme Court voted for the repeal of the defense of traditional marriage, which prevented same-sex couples from enjoying the same rights as heterosexual couples.

source: interaksyon.com

Former 'Darna' actress launches charity project

MANILA, Philippines - Former actress Nanette Medved, who became famous in the '90s for her film portrayal of super-heroine “Darna,” is back though not to reprise that role.

Apparently, Medved is more into helping the downtrodden; putting up the “I Drink, I Give” campaign, which aims to raise funds to build classrooms.

“This is about helping our children,” said she at the launch of the campaign recently.

“Alam naman natin na marami pa [sa kanila] ang nag-aaral sa ilalim ng puno,” she added, noting the need for an additional 66,800 classrooms across the country.

“Let’s not always rely on government to do things for us. Let us also try to be proactive and do things ourselves, kaya naman natin.”

She quickly dismissed notions that she is out to create publicity for a planned showbiz comeback.

“This is not about me, please,” said she. “Marami nang magagaling d’yan, hayaan na natin sila. I will just focus on helping [others].”

“What we’re trying to bring to the scene here is ‘Hope in a Bottle,’ nakikitulong lang ako,” she added.

Medved’s showbiz background allowed her to tap some of her colleagues to join the crusade including veteran comedian Dolphy, Boy Abunda, Jericho Rosales and Bea Alonzo.

Medved was born in Hawaii, but she grew up in Angeles City, Philippines.

Some of the movies she did during her heydays included a couple with Fernando Poe Jr. namely “Dito sa Pitong Gatang,” and “Isang Bala Ka Lang.”

She also did films with Robin Padilla (“Sa Diyos Lang Ako Susuko”), Bong Revilla (“Iukit Mo sa Bala”), Rudy Fernandez (“Tumbasan Mo ng Buhay”), and Christopher de Leon (“Hiram Na Mukha”).

She became scarce in the scene after getting embroiled in the so-called Metro Manila Film Festival Scam of 1994.

She went on to pursue her studies, graduating with degrees in Finance and Entrepreneurship (with highest honors) from Babson College, Massachussetts, USA.

Medved is married to Chinese businessman, Chris Po.

source: mb.com.ph