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Man stabbed over card game identified

The 26-year-old man who was stabbed to death Thursday at Waipahu Island Landscaping was identified as Ronelle Balon, according to a police affidavit.

The suspects, two brothers who were co-workers of Balon, turned themselves in at the Kalihi police station at 7:17 p.m., a little more than two hours after the stabbing.

Police said the stabbing allegedly occurred over a card game at 96-075 Farrington Highway, during which brothers Edilberto and Enrico Tagari argued with Balon.

A witness told police that he saw one of the two brothers holding the knife after Balon was stabbed, according to the affidavit.

Edilberto Tagari, 31, was charged with second-degree murder Saturday. Bail was set at $100,000. Enrico Tagari, 25, was charged with hindering prosecution.

Likelike closed down because of conditions

The Department of Transportation and police shut down the Kaneohe-bound lanes of Likelike Highway near the Wilson Tunnel at 4 p.m. yesterday because of hazardous road conditions.

Police said there had been a series of car accidents in the area yesterday.

The blockage of storm drains caused muddy runoff during heavy rains, and excessive road grime contributed to unsafe conditions, police said.

Transportation Director Rod Haraga said a state crew was expected to "roughen" the texture of the concrete roadway at the Kaneohe-bound end of the Wilson Tunnel. "That would allow the drivers that come around that corner to have a little more traction," Haraga said.

He urged drivers to slow down as they go through the tunnel.

State crews cleaned the Kaneohe-bound tunnel roadway of a nonhazardous fluid and debris, which might have been caused by a motor vehicle accident, Haraga said.

The highway was expected to open this morning.

Yesterday, traffic was turned around at the intersection of Nalanieha Street and Likelike Highway, but local traffic was given access.

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» The Hawaii Advertising Federation has awarded scholarships to Angela Neri and Trista Liana Ai Velez of Hawaii Pacific University, who are pursuing degrees in advertising. Velez was awarded the last Judy Lindeman Scholarship in honor of the veteran advertising executive in Honolulu.

» Four members were appointed to the East-West Center Board of Governors: Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a former U.S. senator; John E. Osborn, an executive of Cephalon Inc., an international biopharmaceutical company; Edgar W.K. Cheng, chair of World-Wide Investment Co. Ltd.; and Tadashi Yamamoto, founder and president of the Japan Center for International Exchange.

» The Jewish Guild for the Blind has created a new annual scholarship for 15 college-bound students who are legally blind. Each will be awarded about $15,000 through a grant from the Jeannette A. Klarenmeyer Trust.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

BIG ISLAND

Teen critically injured in crash

A 17-year-old Holualoa girl was critically injured yesterday morning in a four-vehicle crash in Kailua-Kona.

Police said a 1986 GMC flatbed truck was heading south on the highway when it crossed the center line, sideswiping a 2004 Peterbilt tractor-trailer. The flatbed, registered to Suisan Co. Ltd., then hit a 1993 Toyota four-door sedan driven by the girl.

The flatbed truck driver was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

Kona police were called at 8:53 a.m. yesterday to the collision scene about a half-mile north of the 92-mile marker on Queen Kaahumanu Highway.

The girl also was taken to the Kona hospital and was scheduled to be flown to Honolulu for treatment, police said.

They shut down the highway and rerouted traffic until 1:15 p.m.

Kona police officers have begun a negligent-injury investigation into the collision.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Officer Michael Hardie at 326-4646 or the non-emergency number at 935-3311.

HONOLULU

Bank robber drops dyed cash and flees

Police recovered money taken in an armed bank robbery in Kapahulu yesterday after a dye pack placed with the cash exploded and the suspect fled.

It was the 18th bank robbery on Oahu this year.

Police said the suspect stood in line at about 1:10 p.m. at the Kapahulu branch of Bank of Hawaii at 727 Kapahulu Ave. He lifted his shirt to expose a black handgun and demanded money, they said.

The teller handed over cash.

The suspect was walking makai on Kapahulu Avenue when the dye pack exploded. Police recovered the money near the Taco Bell restaurant.

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect caught on videotape.

He is described as between 30 and 40 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 180 pounds, with a slim build, salt-and-pepper neck-length hair with bleached tips, clean-shaven, with a dark complexion.

He was last seen wearing a tan-colored baseball cap backward, a white shirt under a red Nike jacket and tan surfer shorts.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Detective James Nobriga at 692-4507. Anonymous calls are taken by CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cell phone.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Maui pedestrian struck by car dies

WAILUKU » A Kahului pedestrian was killed early yesterday when he was struck by a van in Central Maui.

Marcus Marlik, 31, of Kahului was hit at 1:50 a.m. by a Maui Mountain Cruiser van traveling southeast on Puunene Avenue, police said.

Traffic investigators said a preliminary investigation indicated Marlik may have walked onto the roadway. Police were still investigating whether drugs, speed or alcohol were also factors.

It was the 20th traffic fatality in Maui County this year, compared with 16 in 2003.