The past year will be noted for the imposition of a gas cap and the deaths of 26 Kane'ohe Marines and a Pearl Harbor sailor in a helicopter crash in Iraq and West O'ahu winning the Little League World Series.

But perhaps the 2005 event with the most far-reaching impact for the state is a federal court decision that struck down Kamehameha Schools' 117-year-old policy of restricting admission to Native Hawaiians.

On Aug. 2, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled 2-1 that the practice at the private school violated federal civil rights law. The court found the admissions policy was illegal because it operates "as an absolute bar to admission of those of the non-preferred race."

The case was brought by an unidentified non-Hawaiian student who was turned down for admission in 2003. Kamehameha is petitioning the 9th Circuit for a rehearing by the full court.

The state's cap on wholesale gasoline prices, the first in the nation, went into effect Sept. 1. For the first time, Hawai'i's wholesale prices were tied by state law to those of select mainland markets. Initially, there was no indication how it would affect island motorists. But then the cap began to rise as Gulf Coast refineries and fuel lines shut down in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Pump prices in Hawai'i rose week to week — surging past $3 for gallon of regular unleaded — and long lines formed at gas stations as motorists tried to fill up before the next increase went into effect. Eventually pricing conditions improved and there were eight straight weeks of declines.

IRAQ CRASH

On Jan. 26, a Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed during a sandstorm in western Iraq, killing 31 U.S. servicemen, including 26 Kane'ohe Marines and a Pearl Harbor sailor. It was the single deadliest event for the American military in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in March 2003. Two weeks later, nearly 2,000 people gathered at the state Capitol for a memorial service for those killed. The gathering included hundreds of troops from Marine Corps Base Hawai'i at Kane'ohe Bay and sailors from Pearl Harbor. In April, Gov. Linda Lingle signed into a law a bill authorizing military personnel with Hawai'i connections who are killed in Iraq or Afghanistan to receive a new Hawai'i Medal of Honor.

In August, Hawai'i sports fans were focused on South Williamsport, Pa., and the Little League World Series. Michael Memea hit an extra-inning solo home run to give West O'ahu a 7-6 win over defending champion Willemstad, Curacao. The players returned home as conquering heroes. They were met by hundreds of well-wishers at Hono-lulu International Airport, and thousands of people turned out for a subsequent victory parade through Waikiki.

The year began with Mufi Hannemann being sworn in as the 12th mayor of Honolulu.

Also in January, the Lyon Arboretum reopened to the public on a limited basis after being closed for four months because of liability concerns about the facility's physical deterioration.

The 555-foot cargo ship Cape Flattery ran aground off O'ahu in February. It was moved eight days later after the removal of 128,000 gallons of fuel and about 9,000 tons of granulated cement.

A GRAMMY FIRST

"Slack Key Guitar Volume 2," a compilation of songs by various artists featuring the uniquely Hawaiian slack-key tuning guitar sound, won the Grammy for best Hawaiian music album. It was the first Grammy awarded for Hawaiian music.

Bandmaster Aaron Mahi conducted the Royal Hawaiian Band for the last time. Hannemann decided to replace him after hearing complaints from members of the nation's only full-time municipal band.

Hawai'i became the final state in the nation to implement a statewide Amber Alert. The Maile Amber Alert system broadcasts news of a missing or abducted child to enlist the public's help in the search.

The 14 branches of City Bank reopened as branches of Central Pacific Bank as a merger of the two former rivals was completed.

In March, the state announced plans to assume direct control of 24 public schools that failed to meet academic benchmarks set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. More schools were added to list later in the year.

April saw Hawai'i public school teachers approve a contract that included raises of 11 percent over two years.

In May, protesters ended their weeklong sit-in at the University of Hawai'i president's office, over a proposed Navy research center. The University Affiliated Research Center has drawn opposition from students, faculty, community members, Native Hawaiian groups and environmentalists.

Hawaiian Telcom became the state's main provider of telephone service, succeeding Verizon Communications.

Lingle signed a law making it easier for residents to find out if a neighbor has been convicted of a sex crime. The state's sex offender registry public Web site received more than 4 million hits before the end of the year.

Mother Marianne Cope, a Roman Catholic nun who worked alongside Father Damien at the Hansen's Disease settlement at Kalaupapa, was beatified. Beatification is the last formal step before possible sainthood.

A proposal to dramatically increase tuition rates for the University of Hawai'i system was approved by the Board of Regents.

On June 2, Hawaiian Airlines officially emerged from bankruptcy. The airline filed for reorganization in March 2003.

Also in June, former U.S. prosecutor Michael Seabright was sworn in as Hawai'i's newest federal judge.

Sgt. Deyson Cariaga was fatally wounded in Iraq on July 8, becoming the first member of the Hawai'i National Guard killed in combat since the Vietnam War.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission spared Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard from a list of recommended base closures.

The Rev. Clarence "Larry" Silva was ordained a bishop before taking over as the leader of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Honolulu.

Former TV news anchor Dalton Tanonaka pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws during his unsuccessful 2004 run for Congress. He was sentenced to three months in federal prison and fined $10,000.

BIG BLAZES

August began with a brushfire covering 25,000 acres and forcing the overnight evacuation of a portion of Waikoloa Village on the Big Island.

A brushfire erupted on O'ahu, burning more than 2,800 acres along the Wai'anae Coast over several days.

Hannemann signed into law a bill that raises the state's 4 percent general excise tax on O'ahu to 4.5 percent to help pay for a still-to-be-determined mass transit system. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2007.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra ordered Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei to return Native Hawaiian artifacts it buried in a Big Island cave after borrowing them from Bishop Museum in 2000.

Ezra later found four leaders the group in contempt of court for refusing to disclose where they buried Native Hawaiian artifacts borrowed from a museum. Edward Halealoha Ayau, Hui Malama's executive director, was taken into federal custody after refusing Ezra's order to reveal the exact location of the 83 artifacts borrowed from the Bishop Museum.

The year came and went with the fate of the Native Hawaiian recognition bill remaining undecided. A U.S. Senate cloture vote to force debate and a vote on the so-called Akaka bill was postponed in September.

LEGAL TROUBLES

Soon after Lingle appointee Beverly Harbin was sworn in to succeed state Rep. Kenneth Hiraki, the governor asked her to step down for failing to disclose she had $125,000 in state tax debts and misdemeanor criminal convictions for passing bad checks.

Three people were killed when a tour helicopter crashed along Kaua'i's North Shore. A Kaua'i grand jury indicted the pilot, Glen Lampton, on manslaughter and other charges.

State Rep. Galen Fox, R-23rd (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka'ako), announced his resignation as it was learned he was convicted in federal court in Los Angeles of a misdemeanor sex charge for fondling a woman.

Resale prices for existing homes continued to rise in November, with record median highs being recorded on O'ahu — $640,500 for a single-family home and $305,000 for condominiums.

Unemployment remained low in Hawai'i during year, with the state's seasonally adjusted rate standing at 2.8 percent, marking the ninth consecutive month the rate remained below 3 percent.

Aloha Airlines hoped to emerge from bankruptcy before the first anniversary of its Dec. 30, 2004, Chapter 11 filing. A reorganization plan, including financing from California investors, has been approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court.