High-Surf alert issued for state

The National Weather Service has issued a high-surf warning for most of the state through Thursday evening.

The warning extends to north- and west-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai; northern shores of Maui; and west-facing shores of the Big Island.

“;In addition to the high surf, moderately high tides are expected during the warning period which can cause additional beach run-up,”; the warning states.

Surf along northern and western shores of Niihau and Kauai is expected to be 25 to 35 feet, while northern shores of Oahu and Molokai will see 20- to 30-feet waves.

The western shores of Oahu and Molokai will experience 15- to 20-feet waves; surf along northern shores of Maui will be 20 to 25 feet; and waves on western shores of the Big Island will be 10 to 20 feet.

Alleged spy's trial is delayed again

The trial for a Maui man accused of selling military secrets to China has been delayed until April.

Noshir Gowadia's attorney, Birney Bervar, said yesterday that jury selection is due to begin April 6.

The federal trial has been delayed several times since Gowadia was arrested and initially indicted in 2005.

It had been scheduled to start Feb. 17, but hearings regarding the treatment of classified evidence were not finished in time.

Prosecutors allege Gowadia provided China with information on making cruise missiles less visible to radar and heat-seeking missiles.

Gowadia has pleaded not guilty to charges that he communicated national defense information to a foreign government and to unauthorized persons, conspiracy and other counts.

Mormons collect funds for Haiti

A missionary group of the Kaneohe 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints raised funds for Haitian disaster relief just by participating in the Dr. Martin Luther King parade through Waikiki.

Eight members, including children, collected donations along the parade route from spectators Jan. 18, using fishnets and lined garbage cans on hand trucks. In the hourlong walk, the group collected $3,700, and donated it to the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross, said Charles Naumu, ward mission leader and organizer of the fundraiser.

Two months ago the group collected $2,500 for the Red Cross at the Kahuku high football games to help victims of the recent tsunami in Samoa and typhoon in the Philippines, a release said.

Members include Julia Naumu, Elijah Ohai, Kaleilani Ohai, Lauryn Ohai, Sabian Ohai, George Poliahu and Ivy Torres.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City, recently appealed to its worldwide membership to help relieve the suffering in Haiti. So far, the church has sent three air shipments of aid, totaling nearly 225,000 pounds of food, medical supplies and other items, a release said. More flights are scheduled.

The church also has partnered with other organizations in providing transportation, and sent teams of medical personnel in January.

Pair plead no contest in beating

WAILUKU » Two Maui brothers accused of using bats to beat an off-duty police officer have pleaded no contest to first-degree attempted assault under a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Leonard Sauceda Jr., 42, and Steven Sauceda, 39, had been charged with second-degree attempted murder for the beating of Sgt. Jamie Becraft last April 4.

Deputy County Prosecutor Andrew Martin said Monday that Becraft supports the plea agreement.

First-degree attempted assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted of second-degree attempted murder, the brothers would have faced mandatory life prison terms with the possibility of parole.

The men remain in custody, unable to post $500,000 bail each.