WAIMEA, Hawaii -- Two men were struck by a car and killed while they were fixing a flat tire on Waimea-Kawaihae Road yesterday, police said. Pair killed while changing
By Rod Thompson, Star-Bulletin
flat tire on Big Isle roadPolice identified one of the men as Ahofono Aholelei, 55, of Kailua-Kona. The identity of the second man was withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
The men were pronounced dead at Kona Hospital.
The accident took place about 5:30 p.m. yesterday when the men were struck by a Ford Bronco driven by a 40-year-old Waimea man, police said.
The motorist was driving downhill toward Kawaihae at the time, police said.
The road is steep and winding in locations, but police said the road was straight at the accident site. Weather was also not considered a factor, police said.
Police said they didn't know if speeding, drinking or other possible factors were involved.
Under state law, the driver was required to give a blood sample for testing, police said.
A negligent-homicide investigation is being conducted, but the driver was not arrested.
The deaths were the 29th and 30th traffic fatalities of the year on the Big Island, compared with 23 at the same time last year.
The Army plans to spend $50 million to improve the existing Schofield Wastewater Treatment Plant and continue to use the treated effluent to irrigate Dole Food Co. fields as well as the Army's Leilehua and Kalakaua golf courses. Schofield waste-water
By Harold Morse, Star-Bulletin
plant upgrade proposed"Dole supports this project," said Jerry Vriesenga, president, Dole Food Co. Hawaii. "We think it's a good thing."
He was the only person to testify at a public hearing last night on proposed improvements to the Schofield plant.
An earlier joint city-Army plan to move effluent through a 14-mile pipeline from Wahiawa and Schofield to the city's Honouliuli plant has been scrapped.
The city said it could not wait for the Army to receive its share of funding for the project.
The hearing at Leilehua High School drew an audience of about 35.
Proposed improvements would upgrade the Schofield plant from secondary treatment to the tertiary-treatment level.
Earl Matsukawa, project manager of Wilson Okamoto and Associates, consultants who prepared the draft environmental impact statement, said comments on the proposal may be relayed until Nov. 2 to U.S. Army Engineer District, Honolulu; Environmental Branch; Engineering Division; Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858-5440.
Maui House candidate denied a recount
The state Supreme Court has ruled a Maui candidate in a state House Democratic primary election is not entitled to a recount.Zandra Amaral lost by 90 votes to Dee Brown last month. She was one of four candidates who filed petitions with the Hawaii Supreme Court questioning the results of the election because of confusion over the new computer system.
The court issued its ruling yesterday, one day after it ruled against Gerald Hagino, who lost by 15 votes to state Sen. Robert Bunda (D, Wahiawa). Hagino also sought a recount or a new election.
Sexual-assault suspect won't be given release
A Circuit Court judge yesterday denied a request for supervised release by James Allen Thompson, who is accused of a series of rapes in Mililani.Thompson, 38, is awaiting a second trial on 23 felony counts of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and kidnapping involving five girls ages 14 to 16 in the Mililani area between January and September 1997.
Thompson's first trial ended in a mistrial.
Box jellyfish expected to show up next week
If you go to the beach next week, beware of box jellyfish.The city's Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division has issued a box jellyfish watch for Tuesday through Oct. 17 with the greatest concentration of the stinging creatures forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.
Areas most commonly affected are Waikiki, Ala Moana, Hanauma Bay and Pokai Bay.
Lifeguards will assess beaches for box jellyfish during the alert period and warning signs will be posted if jellyfish are found.
The creatures generally appear in beach areas about eight to 10 days after the full moon.
Tax preparers forum to be held next month
A forum for tax preparers takes place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Princess Ruth Keelikolani Building, Room 310.Registration forms may be obtained at the Oahu District Office or by calling the forms request line at 587-7572.
Corrections
The Wahiawa Oktoberfest and Oktoberfest in the Country in Waimanalo will not be held this weekend. An incorrect listing ran yesterday in Do It!
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffSixteen Oahu men were arrested for allegedly soliciting prostitutes in a two-day sting operation in the downtown area. Prostitution sting nets
By Jaymes Song, Star-Bulletin
16 alleged johnsTwo police officers on Wednesday and last night posed as prostitutes in the Aala Street and Aala Place area to arrest the men.
On Wednesday, nine men were arrested. Yesterday, seven were arrested.
The operation, named Suppression of Prostitution Using Decoys, or "SPUD," was conducted by the Central Honolulu Police District's Crime Reduction Unit officers after police received numerous complaints from residents in the area.
Downtown Neighborhood Board member Barbara Van Dine was pleased at the operation and said prostitution is something area residents are very concerned about.
"The faster they can clean it up, the better," she said. "I'm sure everyone will be happy to hear about this."
However, Maj. Henry Lau, the head of the Central Honolulu District, said he won't be happy until prostitution is eliminated.
"I'm never satisfied," Lau said.
The department wants to make the area a "friendlier place to walk every day," Lau said.
"Young children going to school see the activity, or the perception of prostitution, and I want to put a stop to this," Lau said.
Lau said police have made about 100 prostitution arrests this year in the downtown area.
In addition to the stings, HPD is working on geographic restrictions for prostitutes, increased street lighting and more police visibility to get rid of prostitution.
Thief fires pepper spray at Kailua resident, 73
Police arrested a man who allegedly burglarized a woman's Kailua home and fired pepper spray at her when she awoke.The woman, 73, was sleeping at her Akokoa Street home yesterday when she awoke to find an unknown man standing in front of her at 6:20 a.m., police said.
The man, 18, fired pepper spray at her and ran away, police said.
She discovered her home had been burglarized and called police. The man was arrested nearby and booked for first-degree robbery, police said.
Inmate charged in abuse of child over two years
A prison inmate was charged yesterday in connection with fondling a 7-year-old girl.Roel Leachman, 38, was charged with third-degree sexual assault, police said. Bail is set at $20,000, police said.
Leachman, arrested Wednesday, is imprisoned at the Oahu Community Correctional Center on unrelated offenses.
The alleged incidents occurred in the past two years at the girl's home.
13-year-old arrested for reported threats
A 13-year-old Central Intermediate School student was arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening another student with scissors.Police said the boy was told to sit down after being disruptive in class on Wednesday when he reportedly threatened another boy, 13, saying, "I going get you later."
He was arrested yesterday when he returned to school, police said.
The boy was booked and released.
In other news...
The blaze began Tuesday afternoon and stalled traffic on the main route to Lahaina for more than 12 hours.
The items included two gold and diamond watches, six Ironman watches, a bracelet with the name "Kiana" on it, a Pentax camera, and a water bottle filled with coins.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 326-4646 or Crime Stoppers at 329-8181.
Lauti is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail for two counts of sexual assault and one count of promotion of child abuse, they said.
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