Murder suspect faces firearms count

The man awaiting trial in state court for murder in the shooting death of lawyer Craig Kimsel is facing more charges from a separate threatening incident.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Daniel Kahanaoi, 45, with using a firearm to threaten four of his neighbors in Waimanalo last year.

The incidents occurred on April 17, 11 days before police say Kahanaoi shot and killed Kimsel at the lawyer's Kailua home.

Police arrested but did not charge Kahanaoi with attempted murder Feb. 24 for allegedly stabbing a prison guard at Oahu Community Correctional Center, where he has been awaiting trial in the Kimsel murder without the opportunity for bail.

The trial is scheduled for next month.

Candidates for Congress to debate

The three major candidates in the race for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District to replace Neil Abercrombie, who resigned to run for governor, are scheduled for a live, prime-time television debate next month.

The debate between Democrats Ed Case and Colleen Hanabusa and Republican Charles Djou is set for 7 p.m. May 7 on KITV. The forum is co-sponsored by the station and the League of Women Voters.

Viewers will have the opportunity to submit questions for the debate online on the day of the broadcast. It also will be streamed live on KITV's Web site.

Ballots for the special mail-in election are scheduled to be sent in late April.

Man could lose $127K in money orders

A Maui man who told authorities he bought thousands of dollars' worth of U.S. Postal Service money orders to help an ex-girlfriend hide her money from creditors stands to forfeit to the government more than $127,000 in blank, un-cashed money orders.

The U.S. attorney filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday seeking forfeiture of 133 money orders with a total face value of $127,479. The money orders do not list a payee.

Postal workers said they began investigating Richard Smith in March 2008 after workers reported seeing him meet and make exchanges with people on several occasions in the Makawao Post Office parking lot before he made money order purchases just below the $3,000 reporting requirement threshold.

Smith rented a mailbox at the post office.

Inspectors said they analyzed postal service records and found that Smith bought 279 money orders in amounts ranging from $150 to $1,000 between Feb. 1 and Dec. 12, 2008. They said Smith made below-$3,000 money order purchases at Makawao and other post offices on Maui and had others make purchases for him.

Last Oct. 2 they intercepted three registered mail parcels sent to Smith's Makawao mailbox from Phoenix. The inspectors said they found 133 of the 279 money orders inside the three parcels. They said the rest of the money orders were cashed by Smith and the woman he identified as his ex-girlfriend.

When Smith called to inquire about the parcels, postal inspectors said they interviewed him at the Paia Post Office. They said Smith told them his ex-girlfriend had a judgment in a lawsuit against her and that he suggested buying the money orders to hide her assets from the people involved in the lawsuit.

Federal law prohibits structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements.

No blue skies ahead for Oahu

Heavy rain pounded Kahaluu last night, with more wet weather due today and tomorrow.

The National Weather Service said radar showed a nearly stationary downpour over the Windward Oahu community at about 7:22 p.m.

Forecasters issued a flash flood warning for the entire island of Oahu but particularly for Punaluu, Waiahole, Waikane, Laie, Kahuku and Hauula. The warning was due to expire at 11:15 p.m. but could be extended.

Scattered showers are forecast for today, with possible heavy rain at times, especially this evening, the weather service said.

Tomorrow, rainfall is likely in the afternoon. Winds should remain easterly at around 10 mph.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

4 state judges claim conflict in Kauai case

LIHUE » Citing conflict of interest, four state judges on Kauai have disqualified themselves from hearing a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a Judiciary employee against a former supervisor.

Leanne Rosa said in her suit against Ernest Barreira that the former deputy chief court administrator created a sexually hostile work environment.

She alleges Barreira gave her unsolicited back, shoulder and neck massages at work and that he made inappropriate comments about her physical appearance.

According to the Garden Island newspaper, Barreira issued an e-mail denying all of Rosa's allegations.

Barreira was best man at Rosa's 1996 wedding. His sister is married to her brother-in-law Michael Rosa.

Leanne Rosa is a judicial assistant to one of the four judges, Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano.