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Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, February 15, 2000

Fireworks regulation before joint committee

The state Legislature tomorrow will take its first stab this year at resolving the heated fireworks issue, but it probably won't involve a statewide ban.

Up for approval before a Senate and House conference committee is a bill that, as currently written, would allow the counties to regulate the use of non-aerial common fireworks through certificates of use.

Senate Bill SB680 SD1, HD2, also would make it illegal to possess or buy fireworks without a valid permit and would make it a misdemeanor to store, possess, purchase, sell, transfer, set off, ignite or discharge aerial fireworks without having a license or permit. Senate conferees, however, are expected to propose a new conference draft tomorrow, said House Judiciary Chairman Eric Hamakawa (D, Hilo). "We want to take a look at what they have to offer," Hamakawa said.

Last year, lawmakers could not agree on how to regulate fireworks.

The Senate favored a total ban, while the House wanted to give the counties authority to regulate their use.

Tomorrow's hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Capitol Room 329. Call 586-6970 for information.

Hawaiian Airlines to resume schedules

Hawaiian Airlines was expected to resume its normal schedule today after replacing the tail wing jackscrews on two of its 15 DC-9 jets over the weekend. It pulled a third plane out of service yesterday for inspection, but did not replace the part.

Hawaiian canceled 18 of its 150 scheduled interisland flights yesterday.

All passengers were accommodated on other flights at similar times, the airline said.

A damaged jackscrew may have caused the Jan. 31 Alaska Airlines crash that killed all 88 aboard.

Pulling the planes out of service and replacing the jackscrews was voluntary and went beyond a Federal Aviation Administration order last week that required the inspection of nearly 1,100 aircraft with tail assemblies similar to that of the MD-80 that crashed, Hawaiian said.

Driver must stand trial in Waianae incident

A man accused of striking and killing 10-year-old Jerry Kekahuna in Waianae with a pickup truck more than two years ago has pleaded not guilty to third-degree negligent homicide.

Judge Richard Perkins yesterday ordered Victor Valoroso to stand trial April 17.

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Update

Trail to stay closed

The Sacred Falls trail will remain closed for the foreseeable future, but a nearby closed trail could reopen later this year, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said.

Following last year's May 9 rockslide at Sacred Falls, the department closed the Maakua Gulch trail in the Hauula Forest Reserve because the area has similar features to Sacred Falls, said Curt Cottrell, program manager for the department's Na Ala Hele Trail and Access Program.

While no serious injuries have occurred at Maakua, officials thought it prudent to close the trail until they could assess it for environmental risks and come up with a better management plan. The department hopes to bring in outside consultants to help with evaluation and training this year.

The trail, bounded by sheer canyon walls, offers hikers a chance to go deep into the geology of the Koolau Mountains, but this also poses potential risks. "There's a lot of rocks in there," Cottrell explained.

While it's uncertain when or if Maakua will be reopened, but Cottrell said, "We're shooting for this year."

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Police defuse loud standoff
at Pearl City, arrest man

Star-Bulletin staff

Specialized Services Division officers used non-lethal "beanbag" rounds to capture a 47-year-old man who barricaded himself in his Pearl City home and held police at bay for eight hours.

The man suffered minor injuries during the arrest. He was taken to Castle Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

The man's 78-year-old father said his son became angry yesterday when he complained about noise and pushed him down before taking out a samurai sword.

The older man fled from the home at 1604 Puananala St. and called police at 2:59 p.m.

No serious injuries were reported.

Neighbor Wayne Porter said he heard crashing sounds inside the house "big time," just before 3 p.m.

"He busted out the windows in the living room, bedroom and bathroom," Porter said. "I was shocked to see all the police. It's been a peaceful neighborhood until today."

The incident did not disrupt traffic flow in the neighborhood.

A woman officer told the suspect through a microphone, "The sword is causing all the problems. Get rid of the sword. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Norma Tokushima, a neighbor, said her husband occasionally talked with the suspect.

"He's a quiet boy. He hardly talks. He seemed to be normal," she said, shaking her head.

"The grandfather called police when he (the suspect) went berserk. He wrecked the house with the sword."

Police say man injured in Chinatown not shot

A 34-year-old man severely injured last night in Chinatown was not shot, police said.

Police believe the man was robbed, but have not been able to determine exactly how he suffered his wounds.

The man was conscious but intoxicated when he was found lying on the sidewalk at 9:34 p.m. fronting 72 N. Hotel St. with severe head injuries.

The initial report was that he had been shot.

The man was taken to Queen's Hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition, say police.

Abuse charges sought against Hauula man

Police are seeking to charge a 30-year-old Hauula man, who allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend with an 8-inch cleaver.

The woman, 40, told police her boyfriend began abusing her yesterday at 4 a.m. The man allegedly choked her and later forced her into a closet before putting the knife to her throat, police said.

When police arrived at the couple's residence, they said they found the man holding the woman down and apologizing.

Woman arrested for writing bum checks

A 21-year-old woman, who has been writing checks on an account that has been closed since Oct. 8, was arrested yesterday after she allegedly wrote a $232 check to pay for purchases at a Kailua retail store.

The store clerk, however, noticed the bad check from an alert bulletin and called police, who arrested the suspect in the store at 4:55 p.m.

Police said the woman, who was arrested for second-degree theft, has written at least 31 bad checks in the past four months.