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Airport security efforts get boost in funding

HILO » The U.S. Transportation Safety Administration is providing $9.5 million to expand baggage screening for explosive devices at the Hilo, Kona, and Lihue airports, U.S. Rep. Ed Case announced.

Case (D, rural Oahu-neighbor islands) said he requested the money from the transportation agency in January, and it was approved yesterday . The allocation will be $3.5 million each for the Kona and Lihue airports, and $2.5 million for the Hilo airport.

While Case hailed the new funding for explosive detection systems, he suggested that there are still gaps.

"Screening in Kona is woefully inadequate and that airport has been crying for additional EDS machines for the past two years, thus far without result. The same is true for our airports on Maui and Kauai," he said.

He cited growing terrorist threats in Asia and Pacific areas as reasons for providing better equipment for high-tech baggage screening.

Attorney nominated for District Court seat

Chief Justice Ronald Moon has named Honolulu attorney Edwin Nacino a district judge to fill a vacancy created by the appointment of Bert Ayabe to the Circuit Court, the Judiciary has announced.

Nacino was a Honolulu police officer for eight years, and graduated from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law in 1990.

Nacino is a partner in the law firm of Roeca Louie & Hiraoka, specializing in construction litigation, personal injury defense, professional malpractice, product liability and insurance coverage disputes. He has served with the city's corporation counsel's office and with the prosecuting attorney's office.

The appointment is subject to state Senate confirmation.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kauai police arrest 2 teenagers suspected in robbery

Kauai police arrested two teenage boys suspected of robbing a woman of her purse at Coconut Market Place Sunday evening.

Leads and information helped detectives identify an Anahola home where they arrested two boys, ages 14 and 16.

Anyone with further information concerning the robbery is asked to call Detectives K. Perez and L. Stem at 241-1711.

HONOLULU

Woman killed by pickup truck identified

A 73-year-old Honolulu woman died Monday night after she was struck by a large pickup truck in Kalihi near the Kamehameha Shopping Center.

The Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman as Masako Maruya.

Police said Maruya was in a marked crosswalk when the driver of a 2004 red Chevrolet pickup made a left turn from Hala Drive onto Makuahine Street and hit her.

Maruya was crossing Makuahine Street from the Ewa curb to the Diamond Head curb.

She was taken to the Queen's Medical Center with head injuries and a lacerated liver, police said.

Maruya died at 11:44 p.m. Monday of multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

NORTH SHORE

Big North Shore surf makes it experts only

It was an experts-only day for water activities on the North Shore yesterday.

Oahu lifeguards allowed only experts to surf the high waves, and tow-in surfing outside Haleiwa was the only other water activity yesterday.

Surf on the North Shore reached 20 to 30 feet yesterday, with 8- to 12-foot surf on the west shore.

Lifeguards warned people to stay out of the water. No rescues had to be performed.

On Oahu's east shore, kayakers in Kailua experienced difficulty with south winds blowing them offshore. Fire rescue crews were called, but the kayakers made their way back on their own, a fire official said.

WINDWARD OAHU

Man held in alleged abuse of ex-girlfriend

Police arrested a 34-year-old man Monday for allegedly kidnapping and abusing his ex-girlfriend last week.

On March 1, the suspect and victim were in a car headed back to her house when they got into an argument, police said. Upon reaching her house the suspect allegedly refused to let her out of the car and instead kept driving.

Police said that during the drive, the suspect threatened the victim, 30, and then attacked her and took her property. The victim later got away. Police arrested the suspect Monday at his Ahuimanu Road home for investigation of kidnapping, terroristic threatening, domestic abuse, and violating a protective order.

EAST OAHU

Police find suspect red-handed, literally

The discovery of blood at a Hawaii Kai home led to the arrest of a burglary suspect who had been stopped for a traffic violation, police said.

About 2:15 a.m. Monday, a 64-year-old man heard noises in his garage and then later a vehicle speeding off, police said. While investigating the noises the man found blood.

Later, as police were responding to the burglary call, they stopped a motorist for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant about a mile and a half away from the house. The motorist, a 22-year-old man, was discovered to have a bleeding hand. Police arrested him under suspicion of driving while intoxicated and first-degree burglary.

WAIKIKI

Rabbit at center of alleged robbery

Police arrested a 46-year-old woman for allegedly stealing a pet rabbit from a friend Sunday night.

Police said the victim, a 56-year-old woman, and the suspect were at Kapiolani Park at 11:50 p.m. with the rabbit. The suspect, who was intoxicated, asked the victim if she could hold the rabbit, which the victim allowed, police said. However, when the suspect asked a second time, the victim said no.

The suspect responded by allegedly attacking the victim, causing her to run away. The suspect then took the rabbit and left the area, police said. Police were called and arrested the suspect later near the intersection of Monsarrat and Kalakaua avenues for investigation of second-degree robbery.

LEEWARD OAHUFugitive captured in mountain shack

Deputy sheriffs from the Department of Public Safety's warrant detail captured yesterday a 35-year-old fugitive who was hiding out in a mountain shack.

Robert Joseph Gouveia, Jr., wanted on a warrant for a parole violation, was arrested 2:20 p.m. yesterday. Gouveia has eight felony convictions for kidnapping, armed robbery, sex assault, theft and escape.

Police said Gouveia was found in a shack in the mountains about a mile above Farrington Highway. Police found him with another convicted felon who was arrested for hindering prosecution.