Former UH star is indicted for threats
An Oahu grand jury has indicted a former University of Hawaii football star for allegedly threatening the lives of workers in an office of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.Former running back Clayton Mahuka was charged on Tuesday with two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening for an incident on June 16. On that day, court documents say, Mahuka threatened the Hawaiian Homes employees when he said "everyone in that office will die."
Mahuka was also charged for threatening Hawaiian Homes member Jessie Hoomalu by threatening to "get to her."
Couple is charged with smuggling heroin
Federal prosecutors have charged a Hawaii Kai couple with smuggling more than 2.2 pounds of heroin into Hawaii earlier this week.Federal Express officials in San Diego turned over a suspicious package to federal law enforcement on Monday, according to an affidavit filed by Honolulu police officer Russell Woodward, who is assigned as a Drug Enforcement Administration officer. Upon inspecting the parcel, officials found four 4-pound bundles of heroin, covered with paper and wrapped in electrician's tape.
Undercover DEA agents delivered the package on Wednesday to Phil Nico and Marian Darrell, both of the address to which the parcel was to be delivered, according to officials.
After his arrest, Nico told officers he has been a heroin user for about five years and also sold it out of his truck for about $2,500 a "piece," or 1,000 grams, according to court documents.
EPA proposes cleanup for Kunia plantation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a cleanup of pesticide contamination at the Del Monte Corp. Oahu Plantation in Kunia.The EPA added the area to the national priorities list, known as the Superfund (cleanup) list, in 1994.
Officials discovered problems at Kunia in 1980 when state health officials found the pesticides ethylene dibromide and dibromochloropropane in a well. The well, which is on the outskirts of Kunia, was the site of a 495-gallon EDB spill in 1977.
The EPA is seeking public comment on its proposed cleanup plan.
A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wahiawa Middle School library, 275 Rose St. The public has until April 18 to comment.
6 Oahu state parks to stay open later
State Department of Land & Natural Resources officials will close entrance gates to six state parks on Oahu an hour later due to longer daylight hours. The parks will close at 7:45 p.m. daily and will reopen at 7 a.m. beginning Tuesday.The affected parks are Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area in Aiea; Malaekahana State Recreation Area in Kahuku; Puu Ualakaa State Wayside in Makiki; Sand Island State Recreation Area in Honolulu; Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area on St. Louis Heights; and the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area.
The winter schedule will resume on Sept. 2. For more information, call the Division of State Parks at 587-0300.
Free astronomy lessons on Big Island
James Beletic, deputy director of W.M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, will discuss "Modern Astronomy" in three free public lectures next week on the Big Island. The lectures are designed for people without astronomy background. Beletic will describe how telescopes work; how colors tell temperature and composition of stars and galaxies; how adaptive optics take the twinkle out of stars; how planets are found around other stars; how big the universe is; and other topics.The lectures will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on the following days:
>> Tuesday at the HPA Gates Theater in Waimea.
>> Wednesday at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, UCB 100.
>> Thursday, Kahalu'u Ballroom, Keauhou Beach Resort.TV interview changed for Valley Isle mayor
WAILUKU >> Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa's interview on Hawaii Public Television-KHET has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.Arakawa, a former councilman who is serving his first term as mayor, will be interviewed by veteran journalist Dan Boylan.
The interview was initially set for March 21 but was delayed due to a scheduling conflict, the mayor's office said.
Youth Conservation seeks team leaders
WAILUKU >> The Youth Conservation Corps will be expanding to Molokai and is looking for prospective members and team leaders on the Friendly Isle as well as Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island.Youths must be between the grades of incoming high school juniors and incoming college juniors and willing to work outdoors. Participants receive a stipend and some may be eligible for three college credits. The deadline for applying is Monday.
For more information, call Pono Pacific on Oahu, 808-273-5753, or visit the Web site www.hawaiiycc.com.
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Kathleen Watanabe is director of the state Department of Human Resources Development. A story on Page A9 of yesterday's paper about binding arbitration for public employees had incorrectly identified her as Karen Watanabe. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui visitor who died surfing is identified
LAHAINA >> The visitor who died while surfing in West Maui has been identified as David Crain, of Bogalusa, La.Crain, 60, was found floating in waters off Launiupoko about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday by his surfing instructor, police Sgt. Max Kincaid said.
Kincaid said the cause of death has been tentatively listed as a possible drowning, pending the outcome of an autopsy.
Big Isle police target illegal off-roaders
In response to public complaints, Big Island police will be cracking down on the illegal use of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes, said Maj. David Kawauchi.Kawauchi said police have received numerous reports from residents complaining about ATVs and dirt bikes using public roads. Residents complain specifically that ATVs and dirt bikes are tearing up dirt and gravel roads.
Kawauchi noted that it is illegal for ATVs and dirt bikes, as well as other off-road vehicles, to travel on public roads.
Kawauchi said patrol officers will focus on areas most cited by public complaints, particularly on Government Beach Road (Route 137) between Honolulu Landing and the "Four Corners" area of lower Puna near the communities of Waawaa, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Parks and Kapoho.
