Big Isle police have no leads in
Each Sunday, Ed Martin visits his wife's grave. Then on the way home, he mows the grass and freshens the flowers marking where Darleen Martin's car veered off Volcano Highway.
fatal rock-throwing incidentHer life ended by a rock hurled through the windshield.
The act of violence occurred May 7, 1996. It was one of a dozen rock-throwing reports that night to police by Volcano-bound drivers along a stretch of Route 11, the only Hilo-to-Volcano highway.
Police found the five-pound rock that struck Martin, 47, in her front seat.
News accounts of Martin's death prompted more calls to authorities about earlier encounters.
Residents from Kau to Kurtistown who had to travel the highway regularly were terrorized.
Witnesses told of vehicles approaching with their headlights on bright before being pelted with objects.
No one had any solid leads on the identity of the suspects and there were varying descriptions of the vehicles involved, according to Big Island police.
Police were frustrated by the lack of evidence. They called in a geologist to try to pinpoint a specific area where the rocks might have come from. But Capt. Morty Carter said the scientist said they were just generic lava rocks that could have come from anywhere.
Stephen Tait, a private investigator, said: "This was a very weird case.
"What was odd about it was there were a lot of people in our neighborhoods that this had happened to."
Like the police, Tait was never able to develop any solid leads.
Carter said although the case is still classified as open, no detective is actively pursuing the investigation.
Ed Martin said there will be no closure for him until he finds who did the crime.
"I do the road thing mainly with the thought that if the individual lives in that area, maybe they'll confess. Every time they have to see the flowers by the side of the road," Martin said.
Niihau missile facility in Kauai radio forum
The issue of whether defense missiles should be launched from Niihau will take center stae at a live radio broadcast of a town meeting tomorrow at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center.From 5 to 7 p.m., eight panelists -- including native Hawaiians, scientists, businessmen, the military and environmentalists -- will debate the proposed Theatre Missile Defense System.
The broadcast's last half hour will be open to audience comments. West and North Shore residents of Oahu can hear the broadcast on KKCR 91.9 FM; Kauai residents can also tune into KCCR 90.9 FM or 91.9 FM.
KKCR and New Dimensions Broadcasting Network are co-producing the meeting. The program, hosted by Jacqui Dunne, will be recorded and edited for later rebroadcast on New Dimensions regular one-hour radio program. It will also be sent to 383 stations nationwide, mainly via the National Public Radio and Pacifica Network satellite services.
Civil-defense testing to take place Friday
The State Civil Defense monthly test of sirens and the Emergency Alert System will be held Friday at 11:45 a.m. The sirens are used to alert the public to emergencies that pose or may pose a threat to life and property.
Local produce featured in UH-Hilo cookbook
The "Focus on Agriculture Cookbook" featuring locally grown products is now available from the College of Agriculture at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.The cookbook is a result of the fall 1997 semester's cooking class conducted by Jack Fujii, dean of the college.
Big Island residents can pick up a copy for $10; others may get one via mail for $12. Make checks payable to UH-Hilo, c/o the College of Agriculture, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720-4091.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffWahiawa man a suspect in 3 armed robberies
Armed robbery charges are pending against a Wahiawa man, 38, arrested yesterday by police at his North Cane Street residence.The man is a suspect in three robberies last week in Waipahu and Halawa. A double-barrel, sawed-off shotgun was used in each robbery. A shotgun was recovered when the man was arrested yesterday, police said.
Robbery Lt. Cliff Takesono said a vehicle description helped track the suspect.
The series of robberies began with last Tuesday's 3 p.m. holdup of Agmata Store & Liquor at 94-210 Hanawai Circle in Waipahu.
The two other robberies occurred Saturday. Halawa Heights Market at 99-793 Halawa Heights Road was robbed at 2:30 p.m. and Bus Stop Market at 94-689 Farrington Highway in Waipahu at 3 p.m.
Old Big Island home suffers fire damage
WAIMEA, Hawaii -- A 109-year-old wooden home on the Big Island was damaged in a fire Saturday night.Firefighters say the home was filled with smoke and heat when they arrived at about 9:13 p.m.
The fire was reported at a home on Highway 19, two houses east of Don's Pake Kitchen.
A 28-year-old woman was taken to the North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea where she was treated and released for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is believed to be an electrical short circuit. Damage is estimated at $25,000.
Police hunting suspect in Big Island shooting
Big Island police were looking for a suspect in a shooting in Puna Saturday night.Police say 41-year-old Calvin Camuel got into a fight with a 32-year-old neighbor at a home on 13th Avenue in the Paradise Park subdivision. The neighbor allegedly shot Camuel in the left shoulder.
Doctors at the Hilo Medical Center called police at 9:45 p.m., after Camuel arrived for treatment of the gunshot wound. Camuel is reported in stable condition.
Police have classified the case as an assault.
Kalihi house destroyed by early morning fire
An early morning fire yesterday destroyed a wooden house in Kalihi. Firefighters arrived at 4:32 a.m. to find the house at 1606 Laulani St. fully engulfed in flames.The fire was brought under control in 13 minutes and extinguished at 6:37 a.m.
Maverick Vera, who lives at another house on the same property, said the home was not occupied at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Damage is estimated at $80,000 to the structure and $1,000 to a car parked in front of the house.
Waianae man arrested for threatening wife
Police arrested a man, 37, on seven counts of terroristic threatening following a domestic dispute on Paakea Road in Waianae.Waianae police said the man punched his 34-year-old wife, placed a gun to her mouth and threatened to kill her shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday.
The woman fled and hid under the house when the couple's four children attracted the attention of her husband. After sending two of the children to look for their mother, the man placed the gun in his own mouth and threatened to kill himself, police said.
The two children who had remained with their father fled. A shot was heard after they left the house but the man had fired the gun into the floor, police said.
The man then left the house with two shotguns and a handgun and allegedly threatened to kill six neighbors unless they told him where his wife was hiding, police said. He was arrested several hours later when he returned to the home.
The suspect was booked on seven counts of terroristic threatening in the first degree, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of possession of stolen property after police discovered one of the shotguns was stolen, and being a felon in possession of a firearms and ammunition.
Kihei man was victim of Maui traffic accident
WAILUKU -- The man who died in a traffic accident near the Silversword Golf Course in south Maui has been identified as 36-year-old Satoshi Makita of Kihei.Makita's death was the 14th traffic fatality on Maui this year compared with 31 for the same period last year.
Makita was driving a car on Piilani Highway near Lipoa Street when it crossed the center line and collided with a van at about 6:03 p.m.
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