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2 men are charged in Kapolei 'ice' deal

Two men were indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for distributing methamphetamine at the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in Kapolei on July 26.

Samu Faalogoifo and Tama John Tuitele, also known as Tama John Amerika, were charged with conspiring to distribute, and possessing with the intent to distribute, 33.6 grams of methamphetamine.

The indictment said the two men had distributed methamphetamine to co-conspirators at the park.

Maui college to add student housing

WAILUKU » Maui Community College plans to add 400 beds to its student housing inventory by August 2006.

The college's partner, Agora Realty, received its special management area permit for an apartment development on Tuesday.

College officials said the larger student base would enable them to offer more courses as the institution evolves into a four-year college.

They said Maui County residents are expected to receive first priority for the housing, which should range from about $525 to $580 a month.

The planned four-story student apartment complex near the Kahului Library includes 100 two-bedroom, two-bath apartments with kitchen and living rooms to house four students, along with a larger apartment on each floor for a resident supervisor.

The college currently has 44 student housing beds and an enrollment of 3,000 students.

Japanese Cultural Center names officer

Allicyn Hikida Tasaka has been chosen as the Japanese Culture Center of Hawaii's new chief operating officer, who will "help manage the center's overall operations and administration," said Riki May Amano, the center's president and executive director.

"She brings a high caliber of experience and skills to the center that will contribute significantly to efficient management, progressive programming and responsible development," Amano said.

Tasaka, former president of the Japanese American Citizens League's Honolulu chapter, worked for 10 years on redress for Japanese Americans in Hawaii who were interned and relocated during World War II. She also spent five years as a member of the inner circle working on Bruce Yamashita's institutional racial discrimination suit against the Marine Corps.

Tasaka served as executive director for Hawaii's Meals on Wheels and the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women. She was chairwoman of the Hawaii Women's Coalition and communications director for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in 2003.

1,100 gallons of sewage spills in Waiawa area

An estimated 1,100 gallons of raw sewage spilled from an 8-inch sewer main near the Pearl Highlands Center in Waiawa Wednesday night, according to the city.

Some of the sewage spilled into nearby Waiawa Stream. The city notified the state health department and posted pollution-warning signs.

The spill was reported at about 8:30 p.m. when sewage backed up through a manhole cover. City maintenance workers found rocks, rags and grease clogging the sewer line. The clog was cleared by 11:30 p.m. Officials said they didn't know how the debris got into the sewer line.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Police hunt man who attacked Hilo woman in her home

Big Island police are looking for a male suspect in the sexual assault Wednesday of a Hilo woman in the Kukuau area.

Police said the woman reported that a male entered her home in the pre-dawn hours and sexually assaulted her.

The suspect fled the home and the woman called police.

Police said the woman was taken to the Hilo Medical Center by fire rescue personnel, was treated for other physical injuries and was released.

Police are asking for anyone with information about the assault or who might know the identity of the assailant to call Detective Raymond Rodrigues of the East Hawaii Juvenile Aid Section at 961-8883 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

2 blazes on Kauai keep firefighters busy

Kauai firefighters were stretched thin Wednesday by two brush fires on opposite sides of the island.

The first fire took place in Waimea at about 2 p.m. above Panini Place and charred approximately 80 acres, according to Kauai County spokeswoman Mary Daubert. Plantation workers contributed two water tankers and a bulldozer, which helped cut fire breaks.

The second fire took place about 45 minutes later in Anahola, where flames charred a couple of toolsheds and threatened two dozen homes on Kawelo Road. None of the homes were damaged.

Firefighters prevented any structural damage, but the fire did burn about 200 acres.

Daubert said about 34 firefighters and the airport crash team battled both fires.

Daubert said the Waimea fire was reported contained at 5 p.m., and the Anahola fire at 11:30 p.m. The cause of both fires is under investigation, although it is believed the Waimea fire started from a cigarette being left on the side of the road, Daubert said. A rubbish fire was believed to be the cause of the Anahola brush fire.

HONOLULU

Collision puts man in critical condition

A 52-year-old man was critically injured yesterday when he was struck by a car while crossing Vineyard Boulevard outside a crosswalk at Aala Street.

Police said the victim, who has no local address, was struck by a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am traveling Ewa on Vineyard in the middle lane.

The accident occurred at 2:25 a.m.

Police said the victim received a closed head injury and was in critical condition.

The pedestrian, wearing dark clothing, was crossing from the northwest curb of Vineyard to the southwest curb outside a crosswalk and against the red light, police said.

The car's driver, a 25-year-old Pearl Harbor man, and his passenger, a 22-year-old woman, were not hurt.

Community complaints lead to police drug raid

Police arrested 10 people Tuesday night during a drug raid at a Kamehameha Heights address.

The operation took place at 1139 Hala Drive at about 8 p.m. Police recovered 10.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine worth about $3,000 along with $4,400 in cash, a small amount of marijuana and a stolen pickup truck, which was found in the parking lot.

Narcotics/Vice Lt. Alan Bluemke said the operation was the result of complaints from the community about heavy traffic and alleged drug dealing in the neighborhood.

Woman attacked with wrench keeps purse

A Makiki woman held onto her purse when she was attacked Wednesday night by two would-be robbers, one of whom hit her on the head with a wrench, according to police.

The victim, 22, was walking home from the grocery store when she was attacked by two men at about 7:55 p.m. Police said one of the suspects struck the victim in the head several times with a wrench while trying to take her purse.

Police said the suspects fled on foot after failing to get the woman's purse. The victim suffered minor injuries, police said. There was no description of the suspects.

Suspected burglar identified by victim

Police arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly burglarized a 54-year-old Salt Lake woman's apartment and robbed her of her handbags Wednesday.

The suspect allegedly wrestled away the handbags from the woman at the apartment at 3215 Ala Ilima St.

Police said the driver of a suspicious vehicle was stopped and identified by the victim as the man who took her handbags.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. He was released yesterday afternoon, pending investigation.

CENTRAL OAHU

Soldier dies after his pickup is hit by a car

A 23-year-old soldier from Schofield Barracks was killed Thursday night when his vehicle was rear-ended by another car on Kamehameha Highway near the intersection with Leilehua Golf Course Road across from Wheeler Army Air Field.

Police said the man who died was in a 1998 Dodge pickup truck that was stopped in the Wahiawa-bound lanes of the highway at about 10:40 p.m. when his truck was hit from behind by a 1999 4-door Honda Accord.

The impact pushed the pickup across the median and across the town-bound lanes of the highway onto the shoulder where it overturned, police said.

The Accord also crossed the highway and hit a fence bordering Wheeler.

Both drivers were taken to Wahiawa General Hospital where the soldier died at 11:20 p.m. The other driver, a 28-year-old Wahiawa man was listed in serious condition.

Police said speed was a factor in the accident and that the soldier was wearing a seatbelt.

LEEWARD OAHU

Man allegedly beats boy who stole from him

Police arrested a 42-year-old Makaha man Wednesday after he allegedly beat a boy he suspected of stealing his property.

The suspect had accused the victim of stealing and allegedly entered the boy's home, assaulted him, then recovered his stolen items, police said. The boy suffered face and rib injuries, police said. The suspect was arrested at his Kiana Place home at 1 p.m. for investigation of first-degree burglary.

Man held for allegedly molesting young girl

Police arrested a 69-year-old Royal Kunia man who allegedly sexually molested an underage girl over a period of several years.

The alleged incidents took place from August 2001 to Aug. 6, 2004 while the suspect and the victim lived in the same house in Waipahu, according to police. The victim, now 14, has since moved to Las Vegas to get away from the suspect, police said.

Police arrested the suspect Thursday night at his Kupuohi Place residence for investigation of third-degree sexual assault and continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14.

NORTH SHORE

Brush fire torches 50 acres in Mokuleia

A brush fire burned about 50 acres in Mokuleia Wednesday night and early yesterday.

The fire was first reported near Farrington Highway and Olohio Street at about 8:15 p.m. More than two dozen firefighters fought the fire until about 2 a.m. Fire officials said no homes were threatened.