Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Hearing set in Big Isle crash

Big Island murder suspect Vernon Costa appeared in Hilo District Court yesterday on charges connected to a fatal automobile crash. Judge Barbara Takase maintained his bail at $500,000 and ordered a preliminary hearing in Kona District Court today. Costa is charged with murder in the deaths of Pua Lei Santa Isabel, 26, and Casey Ann Swain, 35, as well as the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend Janelle Nardin, 20. Police said Costa caused the July 16 crash by ramming the women's car.

Severed line cuts Maui phone service

WAILUKU » An accidentally cut fiber-optic line caused a seven-hour failure of telephone service yesterday in West Maui.

Hawaiian Telcom's service was reported out at about 11:30 a.m. yesterday and returned at about 6:30 p.m.

The Maui Police Department said the affected area stretched from Maalaea to Kapalua.

People were able to make phone calls within the area but could not get or make calls outside the area.

Some people were able to use their cellular telephones for calls, police said.

Help sought to clean the Waianae Coast

The city is calling for volunteers to help clean up the Waianae Coast beginning Aug. 5.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his Cabinet will join volunteers in the cleanup work beginning 8 a.m. at Pokai Bay Park next to Waianae District Park, according to a city press release.

The work, which includes trash pickup and painting, will continue through lunch time when the mayor and his Cabinet members will be on hand to "talk story" with residents.

Tracks and Lualualei beach parks and Maili Point are also on the list for cleanup that day.

The volunteer cleanup precedes the city's scheduled heavy maintenance for the Waianae Coast parks, according to a city news release.

All those interested should report to the Aloha Tent at Pokai Bay before 8 a.m. Aug. 5.

On Saturday the mayor will help in dedicating the Pokai Bay Canoe Halau, begun several years ago.

Computer refit to halt renewal of licenses

Driver's license renewals and duplicates will not be available Aug. 5 at the Windward Mall and Hawaii Kai satellites.

There will be a switch-over to a newly written Hawaii driver's license computer system.

Services are expected to return to normal Aug. 7.

Meetings to address global climate change

Free public meetings about environmental changes in the islands and global warming effects on coral reefs will be held tomorrow and Thursday evenings at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

A Pacific writers forum on "Restoring the Songs of the Forest" tomorrow will feature three authors discussing their recent works that relate to Hawaii, and will include a virtual tour of changes to the islands' native plants and animals.

"Global Warming and the Future of Coral Reefs" will be presented by Thomas Goreau, president of the Global Coral Reef Alliance, Thursday at Lili'u Room 310.

Both events start at 6:30 p.m. and are part of this year's Hawaii Conservation Conference, which is themed "Sustainability: Mauka to Makai."

For more information, visit www.hawaiiconservation.org or call conference coordinator Lee-Ann Choy at 864-9812.

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Waianae students win video award

Waianae High School Searider Productions won the National Television Academy student television award (sports category) for its video production "A Paddle Through Time." It also won the Hawaii Student Television's Crystal Pillar Award, in association with the NTA Hawaii chapter.

» Randal De Vera was promoted to director of assisted living at the Hiolani Care Center at Kahala Nui.

» Malama Jam, the youth benefit concert held for the third year in May, raised more than $20,000 for Help Understanding & Group Support, a nonprofit organization serving seriously ill children and their families. The concert featured a lunch at Roy's Restaurant in Hawaii Kai and young musicians.

» The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association was awarded $10,000 from the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation for educational golf workshops for juniors.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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HONOLULU

Motorcyclist dies in afternoon collision with truck

A motorcyclist in his early to mid-20s was killed yesterday after his cycle collided with a truck at Kapiolani Boulevard and Kamakee Street, Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic said.

The man was taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where he later died, Cheplic said.

The collision happened shortly before 5:11 p.m.

Police shut down two Koko Head-bound lanes on Kapiolani while traffic investigators worked at the scene.

Pedestrian allegedly punches driver at light

Police arrested a 21-year-old Waianae man who allegedly walked up to a car at about 2:30 a.m. yesterday and punched the driver.

Police said a 22-year-old man was sitting in his car, stopped at a traffic light at Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard, when the pedestrian walked up to the car and challenged the driver to a fight.

The driver refused to fight but the pedestrian punched him anyway, police said.

Police arrested him on suspicion of unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle. The pedestrian was released pending further investigation.

Assistant manager threatened with knife

Police arrested a 46-year-old Kaneohe man who allegedly threatened at knifepoint the assistant manager of a Keeaumoku Street store Sunday night.

The assistant manager, 31, tried to stop the man from allegedly attempting to steal something when the man took out a knife and threatened to stab her, police said.

The man then fled the scene, police said.

Police later found him in the parking garage, and the assistant manager identified him.

Police arrested him on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening and fourth-degree theft.

WINDWARD OAHU

Man nabbed in hit-run crash with bicyclist

A 49-year-old Honolulu man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly fled the scene of a 7 a.m. accident in Waimanalo in which a 28-year-old female bicyclist was seriously injured.

Police said the man was driving a car that weaved on the road when it drifted onto the right shoulder of Kalanianaole Highway and struck a woman riding a bicycle. She was taken in serious condition with open head wounds to the Queen's Medical Center, police said.

Police said the woman was heading toward Makapuu south of Bell Street when the two-door 2001 gold Acura, headed in the same direction, allegedly struck her and she was thrown onto the shoulder of the highway.

The man then allegedly fled the scene and was found in the Portlock Road area in Hawaii Kai, police said. He was identified and arrested for investigation of failure to render aid, drug offenses, driving under the influence and seven traffic offenses, police said.