Circuit Judge Glenn S. Hara denied a request yesterday to shut down Private Moments, an adults-only video and lingerie store in the Keaau Plaza shopping center on the Big Island.

William Walter, president of W.H. Shipman Ltd., which owns the shopping center, said the injunction was requested “;for the safety and sake of the community and children.”;

Shipman contends its approval was required for Private Moments' sublease with Keaau Plaza Inc. and that the overall lease prohibits immoral or offensive uses of the property. A trial on the Shipman request for a permanent injunction is scheduled for July.

The store is across from Keaau Middle School, the public library and the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island, which meets at the school. Keaau Elementary School also is nearby.

Walter said Shipman has received about 150 letters of opposition to the store.

Store co-owners Ford and Leslie Pascual are accusing Shipman of “;harassment and smearing us.”; Since opening Jan. 8, they have received threatening phone calls, and people have poured urine into the air-conditioning vents of their cars, he said. His wife was pressured into quitting a job she's had for 20 years, Pascual added.

Walter said, “;Certainly we haven't done that. We are not aware of who has made the threatening calls. Our only contact has been through the court system.”;

Ken Watanabe, principal of Keaau Middle School, said parents objected to using the school as a landmark in a newspaper ad announcing its opening.

“;We do feel some contents of the store contradict the values we are trying to teach students,”; Watanabe said.

Dale Pinkley, youth pastor at Puna Congregational Church, said about 70 members sent in forms listing reasons they were opposed to the store's presence.