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Lawyer enters not guilty plea for Rep. Yonamine
An attorney for state Rep. Noboru Yonamine entered a not guilty plea today to charges that he was driving while intoxicated and making unsafe lane changes last month.Attorney Art Ross, standing in for Yonamine's attorney, Pamela Tamashiro, waived Yonamine's presence at Ewa District Court before entering the plea.
Yonamine will go to trial the week of April 3.
A police officer stopped Yonamine because he was weaving across lanes on the H-1 Freeway near the Radford pedestrian overpass on Feb. 8. Yonamine failed a sobriety test and was taken to the Pearl City police station where he submitted to a breath test. His alcohol level was 0.134. The legal driving limit is 0.08.
The state has since revoked Yonamine's driver's license for three months, effective March 11.
After his arrest, Yonamine said he would resign his legislative seat but has since changed his mind, saying he was persuaded to finish his two-year term by constituents. He has been a lawmaker since 1989.
Two injured as cars collide in Wahiawa
A 79-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman are in guarded condition at Queen's Medical Center after their two cars collided in Wahiawa this morning.The man was traveling south on Kamehameha Highway in a 1987 Toyota about 6 a.m. when his car crossed the medial strip and struck the woman's oncoming 1996 Volkswagen, police said.
Wahiawa fire Capt. Richard Ochoa said the woman suffered a broken left leg, while the man had a deep laceration on his head. Both were taken to Queen's by helicopter.
Slick street
Maui woman pleads guilty to $47,900 theft
A former associate director and secretary of West Maui Soil and Water Conservation District has pleaded guilty to theft of $47,900 in state funds.Esperanza "Espie" Asuncion entered pleas Thursday before Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza to first-degree theft and nine counts of second-degree forgery.
She will be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. April 26 by Cardoza.
The West Maui Soil and Water Conservation District is a self-governing unit of the state.
From Oct. 11, 1999, to Feb. 1, 2000, Asuncion is said to have forged nine checks totaling $47,000 from the agency checking account, making the checks out to herself and then cashing them.
The money, given to the agency as a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was to be used for various soil conservation projects in West Maui.
Maui building's fumes tests near completion
WAILUKU -- Air-quality tests examining fumes from an evacuated Maui County building are scheduled to be completed by tomorrow, according to the county Deputy Planning Director, Clayton Yoshida.Yoshida said the air samples were taken in rooms and air ducts in the building formerly occupied by employees of the Department of Planning and the Land Use and Codes Administration.
County officials moved out the last of the employees Friday, after more than 10 workers complained of "burning eyes" from fumes.
Planning department employees are working in Civil Defense offices, and Land Use and Codes workers are at the David K. Trask Building in Wailuku.
Officials said the problem followed an attempt to paint the air ducts in the building as part of a plan to clear air passages of mold.
Baby story dates set at Waipahu library
Babies ages 4 months through 18 months will be treated to a baby story time starting Saturday at the Waipahu Library.The free program will be held at 10:30 a.m. on four consecutive Saturdays.
Babies and adults will learn activities to foster a love of reading and books at a young age.
To register, which is required, call the library at 675-0358.
The library is at 94-275 Mokuola St., next to Waipahu Civic Center.
McDonald House gives $149,000 for isle kids
More than $149,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities-Hawaii has gone to 28 nonprofit organizations that benefit children of Hawaii.The grants are awarded each year for programs in health care and medical research, civic and social services and education and the arts.
For more information, call 973-5683.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
7 p.m., Kaimuki Recreation Center: Kaimuki Neighborhood Board meeting, 3521 Waialae Ave.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
A third person has died from a single-car crash near the airport Sunday night. Car crash near airport claims 3rd life
Two-year-old Tapelu Levu died from his injuries at the Queen's Medical Center yesterday, the hospital said. His 2-month-old brother, Pulou, and his mother died at the scene.
A 1-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman remain in critical condition at Queen's.
Police said the woman was involved in a domestic altercation with her husband just before the crash.
Medical examiners have not released the name of the boys' mother, 30, pending a positive identification.
She was driving a four-door sedan eastbound on Koapaka Street when the car hit a large tree near Ohohia Street at about 11 p.m., police said. Police believe she was speeding.
Police said she was the only one in the car wearing a seatbelt. The infant was in a carrier but was not restrained in the car seat, police said.
CrimeStoppers seeking suspect
CrimeStoppers is asking for help in tracking down Raymond L. Mathewson.
He is wanted on grand jury indictments for two charges of first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree reckless endangering, keeping a firearm in an unlawful place, second-degree assault, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and violating an order for protection.
Mathewson, originally profiled in a CrimeStoppers bulletin Jan. 18 and arrested Jan. 31, was being held at Oahu Community Correctional Facility pending trial when he was mistakenly released last Tuesday.
He has prior convictions for domestic violence. Known in the past to carry a firearm, he frequents Waianae and Nanakuli.
Mathewson, 39, is 5 feet 7, 165 pounds, with medium build and black close-cropped hair, brown eyes, fair complexion and possible mustache and beard.
CrimeStoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to his arrest. Call 955-8300.
Girl, 11, hospitalized after being hit by van
A girl crossing the street near Palolo Valley District Park yesterday afternoon was struck by a van and critically injured, police said.The 11-year old girl was in or near the crosswalk on Kiwila Street when she was hit by a van driven by a woman in her 50s, police said.
The girl's condition was updated to guarded this morning at the Queen's Medical Center.
Police said speed and alcohol are not factors in the accident.
Woman found near pool dies; autopsy scheduled
A 50-year-old woman found slumped near a pool in her Makiki apartment complex Saturday died yesterday at Straub Hospital.Police homicide Lt. William Kato said the case has been classified as an unattended death.
The woman had been hospitalized in a coma and the case initially was classified an attempted homicide.
Medical examiners were to perform an autopsy today to determine the cause of death.
A tenant discovered the unidentified woman near the pool of the Pensacola Gardens, 1524 Pensacola St., about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, and notified the manager, who then called 911.
Police said the woman's pants were off and small abrasions were found on her arms and legs.
She was taken to Straub Hospital and remained in a coma until her death.
Police arrest mother who threatened daughter
A 33-year-old woman was arrested and charged with terroristic threatening after she allegedly threatened to kill her daughter with a knife in their Waipahu home.Police said Yvonne Kele Donato Hoapili was arguing with her 16-year-old daughter Sunday afternoon in their apartment on Waipahu Depot Road after the daughter found a glass pipe in her mother's drawer.
After the daughter told her father, the woman brandished a kitchen knife and threatened to kill her, police said.
The woman placed the tip of the knife against her daughter's back and then put it against her daughter's stomach when she turned around, police said.
The woman told her husband to leave the apartment with their children.
The woman was arrested later that night when she arrived in Waianae, where her family was staying.
Her bail is set at $15,000.
Man arrested in fire set Jan. 6 at Kailua church
Police arrested a 37-year-old man yesterday for allegedly setting a fire at St. Christopher's Church in Kailua Jan. 6.The fire caused about $2,000 damage to an altar and the church floor.
The suspect, who has no local address, was located at Tripler Army Medical Center and was arrested for criminal property damage and burglary.
3 teen-agers arrested in attack at Kalihi school
Police arrested three boys yesterday after they allegedly attacked two other boys at Dole Intermediate School in Kalihi.About 7:30 a.m, the suspects, two 13-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, hit the victims in the head with small aluminum pipes, police said.
The victims, 13 and 14, suffered minor contusions but refused treatment.
Police booked the teens under suspicion of assault.
They were released pending further investigation.
