Man pleads no contest to witness tampering
WAILUKU >> A former Maui liquor control inspector and his wife have pleaded no contest to intimidating a witness and tampering with another witness.Charles Bunch, 46, and his wife Haeng Yon Bunch, 45, entered the plea yesterday in Maui Circuit Court. The charges stemmed from an alleged prostitution business operated along Lower Main Street in Wailuku.
The Bunches, who each have posted $15,000 bail, are awaiting sentencing in U.S. District Court on Nov. 4 on charges stemming from an alleged prostitution operation.
Kalapana vista still closed after lava crosses road
The lava viewing area in Kalapana remains temporarily closed after lava crossed the road over the weekend.Arnold Okamura of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said officials suspect the lava crossed the road sometime from 5 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday.
The viewing area will remain closed until members of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and officials of the Hawaii County Civil Defense determine it is safe for spectators.
FIRE DESTROYS MARIJUANA
GROWING OPERATION
Chaminade expansion gets Council's approval
A 10-year expansion plan for the 21.5-acre Chaminade University has gotten approval from the City Council Zoning Committee and will now go to a public hearing Oct. 17.Lorrie Stone, attorney for the project, said the Marianist school wants to expand enrollment to 1,250 full-time students from its current 930 by 2010.
The expansion calls for adding nine buildings, including a 72,000-square-foot campus center and library, a swimming pool complex and two residence halls. The plan includes a requirement that the university make improvements to the busy intersection of Waialae and 3rd avenues.
Council panel OKs North Shore plan
A controversial plan to create a 29-lot subdivision at the North Shore's Kaunala Beach won initial approval from the City Council Zoning Committee despite lingering questions about the impact on the shoreline, access and the city's one-time plans for a park there.The property, owned by D.G. "Andy" Anderson's Kaunala Beach Estates LLC, is already zoned for residential but requires a special management-area use permit from the Council.
The proposed permit condition actually allows the setback to be changed if 60 feet is "found to be inadequate after further study."
Earl Matsukawa, Kaunala project manager, objected to that language in the plan.
"Sixty feet should provide sufficient protection for the homes," Matsukawa said.
Work begins on water line near Malaekahana State Park
Construction on a new 12-inch water line near Malaekahana State Park began this week and continues through mid-November, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.The line is being installed along Kamehameha Highway from an area near Kahuku High School to the Malaekahana State Recreation Area, Kakuhu section.
Work takes place between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Motorists should expect delays for about two days while work is performed near the Malaekahana Stream bridge.
The 2,600 foot line will connect the state park to the Board of Water Supply water system and will be turned over to the county on completion. The park currently receives its water via a small, old private water system that needs major improvements.
The project is expected to cost $329,302 and the work is being done by RMY Construction Inc.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
WAIKIKI
Man killed in crash near Kapiolani Park
A 42-year-old Waikiki man died last night after crashing his vehicle into a tree off Paki Avenue across from Kapiolani Park.Police said the man was traveling north on Paki Avenue about 11:45 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road near the Diamond Head Tennis Courts and crashed into a tree.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the man was speeding.
HONOLULU
Homeless man arrested for alleged sexual assault
Police arrested a 52-year-old homeless man early yesterday morning for sexually assaulting a woman at a bus stop.A witness reported to police she saw the man appear to sexually assault a woman about 12:30 a.m. yesterday. When police arrived at Hotel and Kekaulike streets, they arrested the man.
Escapee captured after showing prison ID
A prison inmate who failed to return to the Oahu Community Correctional Center's workfurlough center over the weekend was recaptured yesterday when he presented his prison identification at a bank.Police said Simon Manash, 33, went to the American Savings Bank McCully-Young Street branch about 10 a.m. yesterday to cash a check.
American Savings officials said employees at the bank's Dillingham branch, near the Laumaka WorkFurlough Center, are familiar with the prison IDs but staff at other branches are not. When employees at the McCully-Young branch called OCCC about the identification, prison officials told them the man was an escapee.
They notified police, who arrested Manash at the bank.
WINDWARD OAHU
Girl, 14, surrenders in assault on 2 teens
A 14-year-old girl surrendered to Kailua police yesterday for allegedly assaulting two older teenage girls, who were passengers in a car, on Friday.Two suspects approached the car when it was stopped in traffic and called out to the victims, ages 16 and 17, to fight.
The girls remained in the vehicle as they were assaulted by the two suspects, who allegedly threatened to kill them if they called police.
The 14-year-old was arrested yesterday for second-degree terroristic threatening and unauthorized entry into a vehicle, but was released pending further investigation.
LEEWARD OAHU
Crash slows traffic on Komo Mai Drive
Motorists had just one lane to go into and out of Pacific Palisades this morning after a pickup truck crashed into and damaged a utility pole on Komo Mai Drive near the Lanikeha Way intersection.The accident happened about 2:20 a.m. There were no injuries but about 80 Hawaiian Electric Company customers lost power. HECO said it restored electricity to all of its customers by 6 a.m. and both lanes were open by 7:50 a.m.
Man may have been pushed off balcony
Police are investigating a possible attempted murder of a man who either fell, jumped or was pushed this morning off a third floor balcony in Waimalu.It happened at about 5:30 a.m. at the Harbor Shores Apartment Hotel at 98-145 Lipoa Pl. where the man had checked in on Saturday.
The man was taken by ambulance to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. Witnesses told police they saw two men run away after the man fell, then get into a car and drive off.
Police to arrest Wahiawa barricade suspect
Police say they are waiting for a 41-year-old man's condition to stabilize at Wahiawa General Hospital before arresting him for terroristic threatening and abuse of a household member.They took the man to the hospital after he had barricaded himself in his ex-girlfriend's apartment bedroom on Wilikina Drive.
Police said at about 8:30 last night, the man and his 27-year-old ex-girlfriend were arguing at the apartment when the man threatened the woman with a fishing pole and a pair of scissors and chased the woman around the apartment. Police said the man didn't strike the woman with either object, but shoved her several times against the bedroom door.
Neighbors called police. When officers arrived, the man barricaded himself in the bedroom.
HPD negotiators and SWAT Team entered the bedroom and found the man was unconscious. They said he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Leaky-shower dispute leads to Waipahu arrest
A 48-year-old Waipahu man was arrested Monday after he threatened an upstairs neighbor over a leaking shower, police said.The suspect complained to his townhouse neighbor, a 37-year-old man, that his shower was leaking downstairs into his bathroom.
As they talked, the suspect grew angry and threatened the neighbor with a machete, police said. The suspect's family members held him back as the neighbor left, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Molokai fire of unknown cause burns 35 acres
WAILUKU >> Firefighters put out a 35-acre brush fire Monday at Hoolehua in central Molokai.Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro said the cause of the blaze makai of Molokai High School remained undetermined and there was no estimate of damages.
Firefighters took a little more than 6- 1/2 hours to put out the blaze.
