A couple of broadcast stations ran with stoies about the sinking graves at the state veterans’ cemetery, a situation that was mentioned here yesterday morning. It was the lead on K5’s news at 9 last night.

There was a collective sigh of relief at the Century Center condominium when the popular Galaxy Nightclub and The Dungeon moved out of that strange little squat black building across Kalakaua. The substantial groups of revelers who often partied until dawn were a frequent cause of complaints about noise and other problems. But the relief was short lived, as the club was replaced by what rumor has it was an illegal 24-hour gambling operation, where casually dressed local men stood guard in the small parking lot and escorted what appeared to be a largely Korean clientele inside the secured building. Then late last month another group of large polynesian men armed with baseball bats attacked the guards and stormed the building, police arrived, people ran in all directions, and the place has been empty since.

A similar attack on a Young Street gambling house that made news several years ago was described as part of a turf war between rival gangs providing “security”. It sounds like the war is ongoing.

The fee owner of the property at 1739 Kalakaua is listed in city property records as Menehune Water Company, Inc. I have to wonder what they think has been going on over there?

If we ever did have a “godfather” of organized crime here, this very public war between crime factions appears to be evidence that his effective control is gone and the proceeds of crime are up for grabs. It’s another one of those lessons that sometimes organized crime is better for the general public than the current disorganized crime and resulting turf battles.

There was a spectacular sunrise yesterday, a product of the heavy clouds and unstable atmosphere. There was also a new memorial of sorts for Cory Aiwohi, who drowned outside the reef in Kaaawa last month. I grabbed a few quick photos. Just click this one to view.