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Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, August 16, 2000

Kahapea dismissal motions postponed Star-Bulletin staff Motions to dismiss charges pending against convicted city housing official Michael Kahapea have been postponed until next month. Donald Wilkerson, Kahapea's attorney, could not attend yesterday's scheduled hearing before Circuit Judge Michael Town because he was in U.S. District Court on behalf of another client. Kahapea is charged with funneling money set aside for relocating tenants displaced from city project sites at Middle Street and West Loch to bogus moving companies set up by friends. Wilkerson believes the two cases should be dismissed because the statute of limitations have run out. Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee said he believes the law allows for the cases to be valid. The hearing has been postponed until Sept. 11.

Suspicious fire on
Mauna Kea under control

HILO -- County, state and military firefighters brought a 200-acre brush fire on Mauna Kea under control at 7:44 a.m. today, the Hawaii County Fire Department said.

Fifteen firefighters, including state forestry personnel and military personnel from nearby Pohakuloa Training Area, continued efforts through the morning to extinguish the fire.

Reported at 12:40 a.m. today, the fire may have been maliciously set. A white Chevrolet pickup truck was seen leaving the remote area on Keanakolu Road, an unpaved ranching road at about 7,000 feet elevation, the department said. The site, part of Puu Oo Ranch, is eight miles in from where the road connects with the Mauna Kea summit access road.

The fire spread a mile across the face of the mountain about a quarter-mile below Keanakolu Road, the department said. Its prominent position on Mauna Kea made it easily visible from 20 miles away.

Eight firefighters from various stations were sent to the area during the night to take a "defensive" stance until daybreak when control efforts could begin in earnest, the department said.

Kauai's Waimea library to close for renovations

The Waimea Public Library on Kauai will be closed Monday through Oct. 20 for renovations.

The project includes replacing the air handler of the library's air-conditioning system, constructing a new ceiling over the circulation desk, constructing a retaining wall and fence, and removing asbestos.

The library's book drops and parking lot will also be closed. Patrons may return checked-out materials to the Hanapepe Public Library. Donors are asked not to leave donations outside the Waimea library.

Big Isle Green hopeful may be disqualified

KAILUA-KONA -- A Kona judge will decide by Friday whether Hawaii County officials must disqualify would-be Green Party mayoral candidate Darryl "Buck" Wheat from running.

The Greens sued county election officer Al Konishi, saying he should not have permitted Darryl "Buck" Wheat to be listed as a Green because Wheat is not a member of the party.

In a hearing before Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra on Monday, Wheat testified under oath that he mailed an application for membership to the party last month with a $5 bill. Green officials say they never got it.

County lawyer Richard Wurdeman said the law provides that a properly mailed letter is presumed to be delivered. Green bylaws say someone who applies for membership, includes a contribution and marks a form indicating willingness to abide by Green principals is a member.

Tomorrow

Some events of interest

9 a.m., Damien Memorial High School: Kalihi/Palama town vision meeting, 1401 Houghtailing St. Call Keoki Miyamoto at 523-4641 for information.

Corrections The headline yesterday on a letter to the editor by Judy Sobin was "Fonseca does lots of pro se work." It should have read, "Fonseca does lots of pro bono work." "Pro se" is when people legally represent themselves; "pro bono" means free legal services to others. Slack-key master Leonard Ke'ala Kwan died Monday. A story yesterday said incorrectly that he had died Sunday.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Driver with man on hood charged with murder try

The alleged driver of a car that struck a man while fleeing the scene of a robbery early Sunday morning was charged yesterday as a juvenile with second-degree attempted murder.

The boy, 17, was among a group of four or five youths who allegedly robbed a 15-year-old boy at 3:30 a.m. on Kalauokalani Way near the Hawaii Convention Center.

The suspects fled in a car that struck a man, who remained on the hood of the vehicle for about 500 feet as the driver repeatedly swerved to try and get him off.

The driver succeeded by slamming his brakes. The man is hospitalized in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center.

Suspect questioned in attack with machete

Police arrested a 22-year-old man for questioning about a machete attack on St. Louis Heights Drive yesterday morning that left another man with cuts on his face and arms.

The injured man, 39, was treated at Queen's Medical Center and released. The case is being investigated as an attempted murder.

Stabbing victim attacks suspect in courtroom

KEAAU, Hawaii -- A Big Island man accused of injuring three people in a knifing incident Sunday was himself attacked by one of the victims during a courtroom appearance yesterday.

Vincent Higa, 24, was in Keaau District Court house for a preliminary hearing on charges of attempted murder, assault and various firearms offenses.

Police charged him following a fight at a Paradise Park subdivision home in which he allegedly stabbed Justin Young, 25, in the abdomen and his own girlfriend, Angela Young, in the chest.

He also cut their brother, Tony Young Jr., 23, on the back.

Higa's lawyer, Brian DeLima, said his client was defending himself during the Sunday incident.

During his appearance in the small courtroom, Tony Young Jr. suddenly rushed Higa and hit him several times on the back and side of the head, DeLima said.

"I turned and pushed him off the defendant," DeLima said.

Jail guards rushed in and the whole group of people fell to the linoleum-covered concrete floor, with DeLima injuring his knee in the process, he said.

DeLima limped to his car and returned to his office, but was in enough pain that he decided he'd better go to Hilo Hospital, he said. No serious injury was discovered, and DeLima went home.

Meanwhile, police from the Keaau station interviewed witnesses to the attack, said police Captain Elroy Osorio. Young was being held pending the investigation. Later in the day, police charged him, but gave no details.

21 on Big Isle may face cockfighting charges

HILO -- Police have referred cases against 21 people involved in six cockfights last year to the Hawaii County Prosecutor, they said. The action followed investigation of 211 cockfighting cases, they said yesterday. None of the suspects has been arrested.