---

Molokai killing suspect has history of violence

WAILUKU >> The 24-year-old man accused of fatally striking his girlfriend on Molokai has a history of violence.

Manden T. Kamai has been on probation on charges of second-degree terroristic threatening, third-degree assault and second-degree theft on Molokai dating to July 27, 2000.

Kamai, who pled no contest to the charges involving the man, was placed on probation for five years by Maui Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto on April 10, 2001.

Kamai yesterday was charged in Maui Circuit Court with second-degree murder and first-degree terroristic threatening in the death of 22-year-old Olakalani Mollena, the mother of two of his children.

Police said an autopsy showed Mollena who was found lying on the shoulder of a road outside the Hotel Molokai Saturday night died from a blow to her head.

Maui District Judge Reinette Cooper placed bail at $150,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing on the charges for 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Associate prof picked to lead arboretum

University of Hawaii associate professor of botany Cliff Morden has been appointed as interim director at the Lyon Arboretum.

"It is our goal to help show our communities how spectacular our native and garden plants are, how important they are to our livelihood, and how critical their conservation is to sustaining our natural resources," Morden said. He was appointed by UH Manoa Vice Chancellor for Research Gary Ostrander.

Morden has been at UH-Manoa since 1992 and his research has focused on conservation of endangered species and the evolution and geographic dispersal of native Hawaiian species.

Morden and arboretum staff invite anyone who would like to volunteer their time to the growth and conservation of plants to call Toki Murakami at 988-0456.

State closes fishing for moi until Aug. 31

Moi fishing season closes today and will resume Aug. 31, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The closed season helps the moi population by protecting the fish during its summer spawning season, Land Board Chairman Peter Young said.

Early Hawaiians would also stop fishing for certain fish during their spawning season as a conservation measure, the department said.

In recent years, competitive uses of shoreline areas coupled with increased fishing pressure have led to a decrease in moi catch by local fishermen, the department said.

---

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

WINDWARD OAHU

Laie woman, 38, ID'd as Punaluu traffic fatality

The Honolulu medical examiner has identified the woman who died in a one-vehicle crash in Punaluu on Sunday as Regina Acevedo, 38, of Laie.

Police said Acevedo was traveling Kaneohe-bound on Kamehameha Highway when she lost control of her pickup truck, then struck a utility pole and a cement wall in front of Ching's Punaluu Store.

HONOLULU

Tenant says landlord sexually assaulted her

Police arrested a 56-year-old St. Louis Heights man after he allegedly sexually assaulted his tenant last week.

The 21-year-old victim told police she was assaulted by the suspect, her landlord, between May 27 and 28 at a Honolulu residence. She identified the suspect in a field lineup. The suspect was arrested yesterday afternoon for second-degree sexual assault.

LEEWARD OAHU

Village Park husband held in threat case

Police arrested a Village Park man after he allegedly threatened his wife with a knife and told her he would make a "blood sacrifice out of her."

The threat was allegedly made Thursday after the couple got into an argument about an e-mail the victim had received. After the argument, the victim went to sleep and awoke to find the suspect in bed with a knife, police.

The suspect then made a stabbing motion at the victim with the knife but stopped approximately five inches away from her, police said.

The victim told the suspect to leave the room, which he did, but he later returned with another knife and then allegedly told her he would make a blood sacrifice out of her.

The victim called police and officers arrested the suspect for investigation of first-degree terroristic threatening.

WINDWARD OAHU

Crews find missing man on Kahana trail

Honolulu Fire Department search-and-rescue teams found a Windward man who was reported missing after his evening walk Monday.

The wife of the victim reported him missing at 11 p.m. and said he usually comes home from his walk by 7 p.m. The victim's car was found near the entrance of Kahana Valley Trail at about midnight.

Fire-rescue crews found the man waiting by a riverbed unharmed. Fire crews said the man found himself in an unfamiliar area when it got dark and decided to stay put until he got rescued.

"He was there waiting for us and heard us calling for him," said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada. "He did the right thing."

WAIKIKI

Unknown irritant burns eyes in Waikiki

Six people were taken to the hospital after complaining of burning to the eyes at Dollar Rent-A-Car in Waikiki Monday night.

A Fire Department hazardous materials team responded to the incident at about 7:45 p.m. at 2002 Kalakaua Ave.

Witnesses said workers were cleaning vehicles when they smelled an unknown odor, which caused some of them to have burning eyes, become nauseated and throw up.

Fire Department officials said some bystanders who were passing by Dollar were also affected.

A supervisor with the city Emergency Medical Services Division said the symptoms were relatively minor with mostly burning to the eyes.

Five people were taken in stable condition by ambulance to Straub Clinic & Hospital to be examined, two refused transport and one went home and was later taken to Tripler Army Medical Center.

Fire officials said hazardous waste teams searched the area for the source of the smell and tested air quality but could not find the origin of the irritant.