Trial on liquor charges is set for Lanai coach

A former assistant Lanai High School girls basketball coach accused of providing liquor to members of his team during a trip to Oahu for a preseason tournament in 2005 will go to trial in September.

Dale Kapua told District Judge David Woo at Wahiawa District Court yesterday that he intended to change his not-guilty plea, but at the last minute he decided against the change, opting to go to trial after all.

Woo set a bench trial for Sept. 28.

Kapua is charged with seven misdemeanor counts of providing liquor to underage minors between March 10 and 13, 2005.

A co-defendant, former coach Russell Zablan, is also charged with seven counts, plus an additional count of harassment.

He has asked for a jury trial and is scheduled to go to trial in August in Honolulu Circuit Court.

A third defendant, Ryan Oberloh, is still being sought.