Waihee pleads innocent to DUI rap

John Waihee IV, an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, pleaded not guilty yesterday in Honolulu District Court to charges of driving under the influence and driving without proof of insurance.

District Judge Peter Stone dismissed the insurance count yesterday after Waihee provided proof of insurance. Trial will be scheduled at a later date.

Waihee, 37, son of former Gov. John Waihee, and his attorney declined comment yesterday as they left the courthouse. Waihee did apologize, however, to his OHA constituents.

He initially indicated to the court that he would be entering a no-contest plea without a plea agreement but did not have the required paperwork.

Waihee was involved in a traffic accident in Makiki at about midnight May 10. He was not given a breathalyzer test because he was taken to a hospital for treatment of possible injuries. A blood test allegedly showed Waihee was illegally impaired by alcohol at the time of the accident.

A police officer said in his report of the accident that he could smell "an alcoholic-type beverage" on Waihee's breath.