Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

Air traveler allegedly spits in worker's face

Federal prosecutors have charged a 26-year-old man with interfering with the duties of an airline flight crew for allegedly spitting in the face of a flight attendant. A criminal complaint filed yesterday afternoon says Zachariah Dodge was on board ATA Flight 921 while traveling from Washington state to Honolulu when he became disruptive and threatened two flight attendants. The complaint further states that Dodge refused to return to his seat after the "fasten seat belt" sign was turned on and became "combative."

At some point, Dodge pinned a flight attendant against the flight deck door and "repeatedly spit" into her face, according to the complaint. Upon the plane's arrival in Honolulu, Dodge was taken into custody by officials of the FBI and Transportation Safety Administration. Dodge remains in federal custody until his detention hearing, which is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday before federal Magistrate Barry Kurren.

2 hikers found in good condition

Two female hikers were found in good condition early yesterday morning after being stranded overnight on Manana Trail in Pearl City.

A Honolulu Fire Department official said the two women "were just unprepared and got stranded on the mountain. But they made it out."

Officials did not have information about the ages or identities of the women.

The two women were on Manana Trail which runs into the end of Komo Mai Drive. Fire officials said the women were airlifted out of the area.

Court seeks comment on judicial nominees

The chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court is seeking written comments on selected applicants for per-diem judgeships in the Honolulu Circuit.

Applicants recommended by the Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judge are Nils P.S. Katahara, Linda S. Martell, John S. Mukai, Alvin K. Nishimura, Greg I. Nishioka, Blake T. Okimoto, Charla J. Ota, Judith A. Schevtchuk, Randal I. Shintani and Shawna J. Sodersten.

All comments will be confidential.

Anyone wishing to comment on the character and qualifications of the applicants should mail written comments to Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 417 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813.

Hand deliveries can be dropped off at the Supreme Court Clerk's Office at the same address, on the first floor of the building directly behind the Kamehameha statue. Comments can also be faxed to 539-4703.

Deadline for written comments is Nov. 26.

Per diem judges are part-time judges and can continue to practice law during their term of service. Their appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation.

[ TAKING NOTICE ]

» The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded its 2004 Secretary's Honor Award to Ronald Mau, an entomologist and professor in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. The USDA also recognized core team members of the Hawaii Fruit Fly Area-Wide Pest Management project, including Roger Vargas, project head, and Lyle Wong of the Department of Agriculture.

» The Honolulu Police Community Foundation has awarded $500 scholarships to eight students, who are eligible for an additional $500 upon successful completion of the fall semester. They are Jason Aguilar, Wallace Coleman, Brennan Dela Cruz, Keoni Esteban, Michael Hama, Kristina Mack, Evette Sarono and Tiffany Wheeler-Ha.

» The University of Hawaii Board of Regents have selected 14 professors for the 2004 Regents' Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Recipients are Ronald Amundson, professor of philosophy at UH-Hilo; Richard Brislin, management and industrial relations, UH-Manoa; Danielle Conway-Jones, associate professor of law, UH-Manoa; Kauka de Silva, professor of art, Kapiolani Community College; Larry H. Fujinaka, professor of psychology, Leeward CC; William Haning III, associate professor of psychiatry, UH-Manoa; David A. Krup, associate professor of biology, Windward CC; Meta Tjan Lee, assistant professor of pediatrics, UH-Manoa; Lena Y.P. Low, associate professor of economics, Honolulu CC; Paul Lyons, associate professor of English, UH-Manoa; Joni Onishi, professor of accounting, Hawaii CC; Mary C. Summers, assistant professor of French and Hawaiian, Kauai CC; Robert Wehrman, instructor of music, Maui CC; and David Yang, professor of accounting, UH-Manoa.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU

Arson destroys storage garage

Honolulu fire investigators said a fire that burned down an Iroquois Point garage yesterday evening was intentionally set.

The fire started at 5:17 p.m. at a two-car detached garage at 6411 101st St. Fire officials said the garage, along with the rest of the former military housing duplexes in the area, was unoccupied and undergoing renovations.

Fire investigators said there were signs of an ignitable liquid used to start the fire. Besides the $2,500 worth of damage caused to the structure, fire officials said, there were 50 to 60 doors being stored inside the garage that were also estimated at about a $2,500 loss.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Island police seek leads in fatal accident

Big Island police have renewed their request for information about a fatal traffic crash that occurred Oct. 27 in Hilo.

The crash took place near Ohea Street at about 11 a.m. when a Toyota Corolla four-door sedan traveling south in the right lane of Kilauea Avenue ran off the right shoulder and struck a utility pole.

Police said the front-seat passenger later died of injuries she suffered in the collision.

According to witnesses, at least two other vehicles -- a white van or truck and camper with possible green markings and possibly a black truck -- were in the immediate area when the collision occurred.

Police would like to speak with the drivers of the vehicles and are interested in any commercial businesses that use white vans with green markings.

Anyone with information about the traffic collision is asked to call officer Reed Mahuna of the East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

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Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire Air traveler allegedly spits in worker's face Federal prosecutors have charged a 26-year-old man with interfering with the duties of an airline flight crew for allegedly spitting in the face of a flight attendant. A criminal complaint filed yesterday afternoon says Zachariah Dodge was on board ATA Flight 921 while traveling from Washington state to Honolulu when he became disruptive and threatened two flight attendants. The complaint further states that Dodge refused to return to his seat after the "fasten seat belt" sign was turned on and became "combative." At some point, Dodge pinned a flight attendant against the flight deck door and "repeatedly spit" into her face, according to the complaint. Upon the plane's arrival in Honolulu, Dodge was taken into custody by officials of the FBI and Transportation Safety Administration. Dodge remains in federal custody until his detention hearing, which is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday before federal Magistrate Barry Kurren. 2 hikers found in good condition Two female hikers were found in good condition early yesterday morning after being stranded overnight on Manana Trail in Pearl City. A Honolulu Fire Department official said the two women "were just unprepared and got stranded on the mountain. But they made it out." Officials did not have information about the ages or identities of the women. The two women were on Manana Trail which runs into the end of Komo Mai Drive. Fire officials said the women were airlifted out of the area. Court seeks comment on judicial nominees The chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court is seeking written comments on selected applicants for per-diem judgeships in the Honolulu Circuit. Applicants recommended by the Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judge are Nils P.S. Katahara, Linda S. Martell, John S. Mukai, Alvin K. Nishimura, Greg I. Nishioka, Blake T. Okimoto, Charla J. Ota, Judith A. Schevtchuk, Randal I. Shintani and Shawna J. Sodersten. All comments will be confidential. Anyone wishing to comment on the character and qualifications of the applicants should mail written comments to Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 417 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Hand deliveries can be dropped off at the Supreme Court Clerk's Office at the same address, on the first floor of the building directly behind the Kamehameha statue. Comments can also be faxed to 539-4703. Deadline for written comments is Nov. 26. Per diem judges are part-time judges and can continue to practice law during their term of service. Their appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation. BACK TO TOP \| [ TAKING NOTICE ] » The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded its 2004 Secretary's Honor Award to Ronald Mau, an entomologist and professor in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. The USDA also recognized core team members of the Hawaii Fruit Fly Area-Wide Pest Management project, including Roger Vargas, project head, and Lyle Wong of the Department of Agriculture. » The Honolulu Police Community Foundation has awarded $500 scholarships to eight students, who are eligible for an additional $500 upon successful completion of the fall semester. They are Jason Aguilar, Wallace Coleman, Brennan Dela Cruz, Keoni Esteban, Michael Hama, Kristina Mack, Evette Sarono and Tiffany Wheeler-Ha. » The University of Hawaii Board of Regents have selected 14 professors for the 2004 Regents' Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Recipients are Ronald Amundson, professor of philosophy at UH-Hilo; Richard Brislin, management and industrial relations, UH-Manoa; Danielle Conway-Jones, associate professor of law, UH-Manoa; Kauka de Silva, professor of art, Kapiolani Community College; Larry H. Fujinaka, professor of psychology, Leeward CC; William Haning III, associate professor of psychiatry, UH-Manoa; David A. Krup, associate professor of biology, Windward CC; Meta Tjan Lee, assistant professor of pediatrics, UH-Manoa; Lena Y.P. Low, associate professor of economics, Honolulu CC; Paul Lyons, associate professor of English, UH-Manoa; Joni Onishi, professor of accounting, Hawaii CC; Mary C. Summers, assistant professor of French and Hawaiian, Kauai CC; Robert Wehrman, instructor of music, Maui CC; and David Yang, professor of accounting, UH-Manoa. Police, Fire, Courts By Star-Bulletin staff LEEWARD OAHU Arson destroys storage garage Honolulu fire investigators said a fire that burned down an Iroquois Point garage yesterday evening was intentionally set. The fire started at 5:17 p.m. at a two-car detached garage at 6411 101st St. Fire officials said the garage, along with the rest of the former military housing duplexes in the area, was unoccupied and undergoing renovations. Fire investigators said there were signs of an ignitable liquid used to start the fire. Besides the $2,500 worth of damage caused to the structure, fire officials said, there were 50 to 60 doors being stored inside the garage that were also estimated at about a $2,500 loss. NEIGHBOR ISLANDS Big Island police seek leads in fatal accident Big Island police have renewed their request for information about a fatal traffic crash that occurred Oct. 27 in Hilo. The crash took place near Ohea Street at about 11 a.m. when a Toyota Corolla four-door sedan traveling south in the right lane of Kilauea Avenue ran off the right shoulder and struck a utility pole. Police said the front-seat passenger later died of injuries she suffered in the collision. According to witnesses, at least two other vehicles -- a white van or truck and camper with possible green markings and possibly a black truck -- were in the immediate area when the collision occurred. Police would like to speak with the drivers of the vehicles and are interested in any commercial businesses that use white vans with green markings. Anyone with information about the traffic collision is asked to call officer Reed Mahuna of the East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311. Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —