Local News

County/In Brief

Woman airlifted after falling on trail

A 52-year-old Ohio woman was airlifted to safety Tuesday after she slipped on a trail at Pua’a Ka’a Wayside Park and fell about 30 feet onto some rocks, said Maui Fire Department Capt. Lionel Montalvo.

Hana firefighters received the alarm at 11:27 a.m. and were assisted by Kahului rescue firefighters aboard the department’s Air One helicopter, Montalvo said.

When rescuers arrived, including police and medics, the woman was found lying in a shallow pool, about 300 yards from Hana Highway and three pools upstream, he said.

Trail conditions were “extremely muddy,” he said. And, a family member reported that she slipped and fell backward onto the rocks.

Rescuers were unable to carry the woman out because of steepness and the terrain’s “dangerous conditions,” Montalvo said.

A Kahului rescue crew airlifted the woman out and took her to a landing area on Hana Highway, he said. Then, the woman was taken by ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical Center.

The woman’s medical condition was unavailable.

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Vehicle strikes pole, turns out lights

Around 5,300 customers lost electrical power in Wailuku and Kahului early Tuesday morning after a vehicle hit a utility pole in Wailuku, Maui Electric Co. said.

The crash occurred at 1:40 a.m., and power was restored to 5,100 customers within an hour. The remaining customers were brought back online shortly after 3 a.m., MECO said.

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Crash victim freed from flipped vehicle

An occupant trapped in an overturned vehicle was freed by firefighters Tuesday morning after a crash on the Lahaina bypass road between Hokiokio and Lahainaluna roads, a fire official said.

Lahaina ladder and engine companies responded to the 8:59 a.m. alarm. Firefighters used a device to stabilize and raise the vehicle before extrication tools were used to free the occupant, said Capt. Lionel Montalvo, Maui Fire Department spokesman. He said the vehicle occupant was flown to Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Additional information was not immediately available.

Local News

County / In Brief

Film industry casting event postponed

The Film Industry Night event scheduled from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Maui Tropical Plantation has been postponed until further notice, a county spokesman said Saturday.

An announcement for the event, which was scheduled to feature “Hawaii Five-0” casting director Rachel Sutton, appeared on Page A3 on Saturday.

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Hale Makua’s Foster will speak Monday

Deborah Foster of Hale Makua Health Services will speak during the Rotary Club of Kahului’s meeting Monday.

Foster will discuss Care Homes by Hale Makua, which offers minimal to moderate round-the-clock supervision and assistance for individuals with memory loss or dementia.

The meeting will be from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cafe O’Lei at the Dunes at Maui Lani.

The public is welcome to attend. Cost is $20 for lunch or a $5 program fee.

For more information, call club President Paul Janes-Brown at 572-8000.

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State DOT announces roadwork schedule

The state Department of Transportation has announced that work on Maui County roads this week is scheduled in the following areas:

* There will be lane detours in both directions of Hana Highway between Kula Highway and Pulehuiki Road from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for pavement resurfacing.

* The Kahului-bound lane of Hana Highway between Mileposts 1 and 2 will be closed all day Monday through Friday for road repaving.

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Five-year prison sentence in jewelry theft

WAILUKU – A Haiku man with a prior theft conviction was sentenced to a five-year prison term for stealing jewelry from a Kaanapali store last year.

As a repeat offender with a prior theft conviction, Sean Attaguile, 29, was ordered to serve at least one year and eight months of the term before being eligible for parole.

He was sentenced Wednesday, the same day he pleaded no contest to a second-degree theft charge.

“I made a mistake,” Attaguile said.

The theft occurred April 3, 2013, when Attaguile went into the Lahaina Scrimshaw store at Whalers Village in Kaanapali and asked to see a pendant, said Deputy Prosecutor Carson Tani.

He said Attaguile left the store before returning and asking to see the pendant again, along with a gold chain. When the store clerk produced the jewelry, Attaguille ran out of the store with the pendant and chain, Tani said.

He said the pendant, valued at $495, was recovered but not the chain, which was valued at $1,995.

Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo ordered Attaguile to pay $1,995 in restitution as part of his sentence.

He will serve the prison term at the same time as a five-year prison term he was already serving for a probation revocation in a 2010 theft case.

Local News

County / In Brief

Man being held in sex assault on child

WAILUKU – A 55-year-old man is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail after being indicted on a charge alleging he sexually assaulted a child in 2003.

Victor Ruano Gonzalez, who gave police a Kihei address, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree sexual assault of the girl. A June 23 trial is scheduled for him in 2nd Circuit Court.

Gonzalez was arrested last week.

During his bail hearing Friday, Deputy Prosecutor Kim Whitworth asked that the bail amount be maintained. She said Gonzalez has no verifiable residence or employment and is a Guatemalan national.

Judge Rhonda Loo kept Gonzalez’s bail at $250,000.

Gonzalez has been ordered to stay away from the victim, who is a minor.

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Kahoolawe wind advisory issued

A wind advisory has been issued for Kahoolawe until 6 p.m. today, the National Weather Service said.

Strong northeasterly winds of 15 to 35 mph with gusts of 50 mph are expected to blow today.

A wind advisory means that sustained winds of at least 30 mph, or gusts of at least 50 mph, are expected.

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Car wash, cookie sale planned today

A car wash and cookie sale is being organized by Roselani Place from 8 a.m. to noon today.

Roselani Place is located at 88 S. Papa Ave. in Kahului.

The cost for the car wash is $5 for cars and $6 for trucks.

Cookies baked in the Roselani Place kitchen will be $5 a bag. Bags will have white chocolate, macadamia nut or chocolate chip cookies.

For more information, call 871-7720 or email activities@roselaniplace.com.

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Summer school set for kindergartners

Wailuku Elementary School is offering a pre-kindergarten summer school for incoming kindergartners who have not attended a preschool.

The free program runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays from July 1 to 19.

The goal is to help children learn social skills, classroom routines and preview academic skills they will learn in kindergarten.

Parents who have sent their children to this program in the past have given it high ratings for preparing their child for the first year of school, the news release about the program said.

Application forms are available from the school office and at wailuku.k12.hi.us. For more information, call 984-5622.

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Preschool subsidy program offered

A state subsidy program that can help eligible low- and moderate-income families send their children to a licensed preschool is accepting applications until Wednesday.

The Department of Human Services’ Preschool Open Doors program is accepting applications to be considered for the upcoming preschool year between July 1 and June 30, 2015.

Effective this August, a child must be 5 years old on or before July 31 to enter kindergarten. Families affected by the new entry age are encouraged to apply, the state announced.

Underserved or at-risk children born between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009, will receive priority consideration for the 2014-15 school year.

Applications may be obtained by calling (800) 746-5620. Or visit www.patchhawaii.org.

Local News

County/In Brief

Break in ditch sends debris into ocean

A break in an elevated portion of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s Hamakua Ditch as it crosses Kailua Gulch on Thursday sent a mud plume down the gulch and into the ocean near Baldwin Beach Park in Paia.

The public is advised to stay out of the water near the plume until it dissipates, which HC&S anticipates will occur over the next few days, as is the case after heavy rainfall, said Rick Volner, HC&S general manager.

Clean water from the Hamakua Ditch, which collects water from East Maui streams for irrigation of HC&S cane fields, overflowed into the gulch, picking up dirt and debris as it flowed toward the ocean, according to a company news release.

Water flow was stopped to that portion of the ditch when the break was discovered. The cause of the break remained under investigation, the company said.

“We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this break has caused the community,” said Volner. “We do our best to maintain the 72 miles of ditches, flumes and tunnels that comprise our East Maui water delivery system, but as with anything that is over a hundred years old, there are going to be breaks.”

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Native Hawaiian sovereignty talk topic

A town hall meeting to discuss the process of Native Hawaiian nation building led by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Hale Pomaikai, Paukukalo Hawaiian Homes.

Speakers include Bumpy Kanahele of the Independent and Sovereign Nation State of Hawaii and Joe Lewis of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

For more information, contact Tasha Kama at 463-2963.

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Police set to collect unused medications

Anyone with expired or unused prescription medications can bring their medications to a collection site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wailuku Police Department lot.

The service is free and anonymous – no questions asked. Tablets, capsules and all other solid dosage forms of medication will be accepted. New or used needles and syringes will not be accepted.

The initiative in Hawaii, sponsored by the Department of the Attorney General, the Drug Enforcement Administration and state Narcotics Enforcement Division, is in its eighth year of take-back days nationwide.

Last year, Hawaii collected 4,507 pounds of prescription medications on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.

Take-back days are needed because current federal laws do not provide a way for patients, caregivers and pet owners to dispose of such controlled medications such as painkillers, sedatives, tranquilizers and stimulants like ADHD drugs, according to a news release from the Department of the Attorney General.

Proper disposal of unused or expired medicine reduces the risk of dangerous and illegal drug use, children mistaking pills for candy and possible harm to aquatic life when substances are flushed down the toilet.

The Maui Police Department is at 55 Mahalani St. in Wailuku.

Local News

County/In Brief

Arrest in abuse and endangerment case

A 27-year-old Kahului man was arrested on charges that he injured his girlfriend and endangered their child when he used a box to shatter a car window while the two were in the vehicle last week, police said.

Bail was set at $7,200 for Gerson Phillip. He was charged with abuse, second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree assault and first-degree criminal property damage.

The incident occurred at 12:45 p.m. April 15 when Phillip’s 31-year-old girlfriend confronted him at Kuihelani Highway and Puunene Avenue, said Lt. Derrick Lopez of the Criminal Investigation Division. He said Phillip picked up a small wooden box and used it to shatter the driver’s side window, causing shards of glass to cut the woman’s arm while she sat in the driver’s seat.

The couple’s 4-year-old daughter also was in the car, sitting nearby, Lopez said.

Phillip was arrested Monday morning and charged.

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AKC dog shows on Maui over weekend

The only American Kennel Club-sanctioned dog shows on Maui, which will have top dogs from across the state, will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Kihei Elementary School playground.

The Valley Isle Kennel Club will host dog shows and obedience and rally trials. Judges from Canada and California will rate a wide variety of dog breeds, and “best in show” honors will be awarded both days.

Judging will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.

Entries are closed, but the public is invited to view the event.

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Used book sale an Earth Day celebration

The nonprofit Maui Friends of the Library is hosting a Used Book Sidewalk Sale to celebrate Earth Day. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Whole Foods Market at the Maui Mall in Kahului.

Each child at the sale can take home a children’s book for free.

There are a variety of donated fiction and nonfiction books for sale.

All of the proceeds will benefit Maui County public libraries.

Local News

County / In Brief

Bail maintained in sex assaults case

WAILUKU – Bail was kept at $750,000 for a Wailuku man indicted on charges alleging that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a child.

Yember Marroquin-Estrada, 35, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of third-degree sexual assault and 18 counts of first-degree sexual assault of a girl periodically from April 2011 to September 2012.

A July 7 trial is set for Marroquin-Estrada in 2nd Circuit Court.

He has been ordered to stay away from the girl and her mother, as well as their residence, school and workplace.

During a hearing Tuesday, Judge Peter Cahill also ordered Marroquin-Estrada to turn over his passport.

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Teenager arrested in fires on Molokai

Molokai patrol officers arrested a 17-year-old boy in the investigation of two fires that were intentionally set Thursday morning in Hoolehua, police said.

Officers responded to a fire reported at 10:06 a.m. near Likelike Avenue, finding two fires of one-quarter acre each on undeveloped land, police said.

Firefighters responded to contain the fires within 30 minutes. No homes were in immediate danger, police said, and an investigation showed that the fires were intentionally set.

The boy was arrested for first-degree arson and third-degree arson, police said. He was later released to his parents.

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Andaz Maui makes magazine’s Hot List

The Andaz Maui at Wailea has made Conde Nast Travelers’ 18th annual Hot List in the best beach hotels category.

The list is a guide to the best new hotels and resorts worldwide. Editors considered 510 hotels in 400 cities and 93 countries this year.

The criteria for selection included the property’s sense of place, personality and intuition, a news release said.

Other hotels in the best beach hotels category included Mukul Resort, Nicaragua; Nizuc Resort & Spa, Cancun; and Point Yamu by Como, Phuket.

Local News

County / In Brief

Average gas price a few cents higher

The average price of unleaded gas in Wailuku went up 2 cents in a week to $4.42 per gallon as of Thursday, according to AAA Hawaii’s weekly snapshot of gas prices.

Wailuku’s price was 11 cents more than last month and 11 cents less than last year, AAA reported.

Statewide, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas went up for the ninth consecutive week, rising 2 cents in a week to $4.32, which is 15 cents more than last month and 6 cents less than a year ago.

Honolulu’s average price was $4.27, 2 cents more than last week, 18 cents more than last month and 3 cents less than last year. In Hilo, the average price was $4.21 this week, 9 cents more than last week, 9 cents more than last month and 17 cents less than last year.

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Hawaiian Homes panel to meet

The Hawaiian Homes Commission will hold its annual regular meetings on Molokai beginning at 9:30 a.m. Monday and noon Tuesday in the Kulana Oiwi multipurpose conference room at Kala-ma’ula, according to an announcement.

The commission also will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Kalama’ula Hawaiian Homestead from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kalani’ana’ole Hale, across from the commission’s Molokai District office in Kalama’ula.

For meeting agendas, go to dhhl.hawaii.gov.

To request accommodations for sign-language interpretation or accessible parking, call (808) 620-9590.

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Sports complex meeting set April 29

The public is invited to attend an informational meeting about the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex Project on April 29, according to a state Department of Land and Natural Resources announcement.

The meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Pomaikai Elementary School.

The department will present project details that include baseball, softball and soccer fields, as well as concessions, restrooms and parking areas.

For more information, call the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at 984-2400, ext.60255, or call DLNR at (808) 587-0230.

Pomaikai Elementary is at 4650 S. Kamehameha Ave. in Kahului.

Local News

County/In Brief

Official: Fires may have been intentional

Three brush fires that may have been intentionally set burned about a half-acre Thursday morning in Kalamaula Mauka on Molokai.

Firefighters from Kaunakakai, Hoolehua and Pukoo responded to the 10:09 a.m. call, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga. When crews arrived on the scene, they found three separate fires burning in “light flashy fuels,” he said.

Two fires, which eventually merged into a quarter-acre blaze, burned at the corner of Likelike Avenue and Pookela Street, he said. A third fire, also a quarter acre, burned 50 yards west of the other fires on Likelike Avenue.

The fires were quickly contained and extinguished, Mainaga said. No damage or injuries were reported, and no homes were threatened. The cause of the fires had not been determined, but they may have been intentionally set, Mainaga said. Police continued investigating.

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Child seat inspections Saturday are free

Free child car seat and booster seat inspections will be done from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Maui Marketplace near Sports Authority on Dairy Road in Kahului.

Those interested in having child car seats or booster seats checked to see whether they’re properly installed should show up with the child, seat and car. An inspection takes a minimum of 30 minutes for each seat.

The inspections are done on a first-come, first-served basis.

Under state law, child car seats are required for children under age 4. Children from ages 4 to 7 are required to be restrained in either car seats or booster seats while riding in vehicles.

Information about upcoming child car seat inspections is available on Facebook by looking up Maui County Child Passenger Safety at www.facebook.com/mauichildpassengersafety.

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Disaster preparedness topic of condo talk

Anna Foust, Maui Civil Defense Agency emergency management officer, will be among the speakers at the Condominium Council of Maui seminar “Disaster Preparedness: Are You Ready?” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7 at the King Kamehameha Golf Club.

She will be joined by officials from other first responders, including the police and fire departments and the American Red Cross.

The cost is $50 for members and $60 for nonmembers. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information, go to the website www.mauicondocouncil.com.

Local News

County/In Brief

Firefighters tackle brush fire in Kihei

Maui County firefighters on Wednesday battled a stubborn 2-acre brush fire on the south side of Kaonoulu Street below Piilani Highway in Kihei, fire officials said.

Firefighters received the alarm at 12:46 p.m and battled the blaze for more than four hours, leaving the scene at 5:10 p.m, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

Fire crews from Kihei, Wailea and Kahului responded to the fire, along with water tankers from Wailea and Kahului and the Maui Fire Department’s Air One helicopter, he said.

About 10 minutes after firefighters left the scene, they were called back to an area just south of the previous call for another brush fire. Kihei and Wailea firefighters found about a half-acre area on fire, he said. The blaze was quickly under control and extinguished by 7:10 p.m.

A fire prevention inspector conducted an investigation but could not determine the cause of the fires. Although the cause of the second brush fire was undetermined, it was most likely caused by a spot fire from the previous fire, Mainaga said.

No monetary damage or injuries were reported.

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DOE announces graduation dates

Graduation dates for the eight Maui County public high schools, which run from May 22 to 25, were announced by the state Department of Education on Wednesday.

The schedule follows:

* King Kekaulike High, 6 p.m. May 22, school stadium, Pukalani.

* Kihei Charter, 5 p.m. May 23, Wailea Marriott Kahoolawe Lawn.

* Molokai High, 5 p.m. May 23, school gym.

* Baldwin High, 6 p.m. May 23, War Memorial Stadium, Wailuku.

* Lanai High and Elementary, 2 p.m. May 24, school gym.

* Hana High & Elementary, 3:30 p.m. May 24, school field.

* Maui High, 5 p.m. May 24, War Memorial Stadium.

* Lahainaluna High, 6:30 p.m. May 25, Boarders Field.

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Keiki to decorate eggs for homeless

St. John’s Church is hosting a keiki activity at noon on Good Friday where children will be decorating bags and then filling them with Easter eggs that they have colored.

The event is open to all children. For information, call the church at 878-1485.

The bags will be distributed by the Cup of Cold Water Community Care Van on its South Maui run on Easter morning.

A Cup of Cold Water Community Care Van delivers basic life needs to Maui’s homeless population. The program currently consists of 40 volunteers from Maui’s four Episcopal Churches along with members from the Nazarene and Roman Catholic churches, New Hope Chapel, Hawaiian Church in Lahaina and other community members.

For more information about the outreach effort, contact 419-1637 or acupofcoldwatermaui@gmail.com.

Local News

County/In Brief

Waterline repair to close Main Street

Main Street in Wailuku will be closed between High and North Church streets from 9 p.m. today to 4:30 a.m. Thursday to repair a leaking waterline, county Water Supply Department officials said.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and to follow signs.

Water service may be affected for customers between McDonald’s and Maui Medical Group between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Customers may want to flush their waterlines for a short time Thursday morning to ensure that no sediment has accumulated in their waterlines during the project.

Affected customers are advised to store water for the night if needed.

Customers are requested to call the 24-hour service line at 270-7633 only if a water emergency occurs.

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Sheep season applications offered

Applications for the 2014 Lanai mouflon sheep hunting season currently are available at state Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices statewide.

All hunters must submit the application and review the instruction sheet that specifies special conditions and procedures for this year’s hunt.

The 2014 mouflon sheep season will consist of three hunts:

* Archery-only hunt, July 26 to Aug. 2.

* Muzzleloading hunt, weekends Aug. 9-10 and Aug. 16-17.

* General rifle hunt, nine consecutive weekends from Aug. 23 to Oct. 19.

The deadline to submit applications is 4 p.m. May 2. Hunters are encouraged to submit their application well before the deadline to ensure proper processing.

Applications may be submitted in person or by mail to the Maui DOFAW Office, 54 S. High St., Room 101, Wailuku 96793.

Lanai residents only may mail or deliver applications to the Lanai DOFAW Office, 917 Fraser Ave., P.O. Box 630661, Lanai City 96763.

For more information, call the Maui DOFAW office at 984-8100 or go to the website www.dlnr.hawaii.gov.

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CERT training offered on Molokai

The Maui Fire Department will be providing Community Emergency Response Team training courses on Molokai in May.

CERT training educates attendees about hazards and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations, according to a county announcement Monday. When disasters happen, CERT members support professional first responders by providing immediate assistance to victims.

The 28-hour course is taught over several days and consists of classroom instruction and field exercises.

It is free to all Maui County residents and open to those 18 years and older. Youths ages 14 to 17 may attend with a parent or legal guardian. No previous experience needed.

The sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays May 3, 10, 17 and 31 at Molokai High School.

Class size is limited, and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, call Maui Civil Defense at 270-7285 or email cert@mauicounty.gov.

Local News

County/In Brief

Man dies from injuries in attack at park

A 44-year-old Kihei man died Friday at Maui Memorial Medical Center after he was beaten and found unconscious last month in Kalama Park, police said.

Michael Phillip Gray, also known as “Smiley,” died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Police have reclassified the case as second-degree murder, said Maui police spokesman Lt. William Juan.

A Kihei man and two juvenile males have been arrested in connection with the investigation, he said. No charges have been filed.

The incident occurred March 15, when Kihei patrol officers responding to another incident at Kihei Kalama Village were approached by a man, who reported a man being beaten in the park across the street, police said.

Officers found Gray alone and unconscious on the ground next to the pavilion. Medics were called and transported the man in critical condition to MMMC, police said.

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call Detective Jeffrey Mahoney at 875-5409 or Maui Crime Stoppers at 242-6966.

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Offices, schools to close for Good Friday

State and county offices, along with public schools, will be closed Friday in observance of Good Friday.

Federal offices including the U.S. Postal Service will be open. The Maui News will be open during its regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. County pools will also be open and trash collection will not be affected.

The Hana and Lanai landfills and Molokai Landfill and Recycling will be closed. The Central Maui Landfill and EKO Compost and Greenwaste will be open from 6 a.m. to noon. Olowalu recycling will be open from 8 a.m. to noon.

The state Public Library System’s library services will be unavailable Friday as there will be an upgrade of its Internet access. All public libraries will be closed Friday as well as Sunday for Easter.

The Makawao Public Library will also be closed Saturday, and the Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina public libraries will be open.

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Kayakers rescued from windy conditions

Fire crews pulled two kayakers from South Maui waters Sunday afternoon in windy conditions.

Firefighters from Wailea and Kahului, along with Maui Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter and an Ocean Safety officer on a personal watercraft, responded to the 12:27 p.m. call to La Perouse Bay, according to Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

A party of six people on three kayaks had launched from La Perouse Bay with the intent to paddle to Makena, Mainaga said. Due to windy conditions, the kayakers turned around to return to La Perouse Bay and realized that the third kayak, with two females aboard, was missing.

Rescue crews located the kayak approximately 500 yards off shore, Mainaga said. The women, who were both wearing floatation devices, were located in the water and brought to shore via personal watercraft.

The four people aboard the other two kayaks reached the shore on their own.

All of the kayakers were local residents, Mainaga said. There were no injuries.

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Tracking asteroids topic of free program

Students are invited to attend a free program at the Kahului Public Library tonight to learn about “Tracking Asteroids: Ninjas of the Solar System.”

The 45-minute program begins at 6 p.m. It is suitable for children ages 12 and older.

J.D. Armstrong, Maui technology education and outreach specialist for the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, will share information about asteroids – small airless rocky worlds that revolve around the sun and are too small to be called planets. He will explain why asteroids are like “ninjas of the solar system.”

The program is part of a series of events to celebrate National Library Week. For a complete list of programs, go to librarieshawaii.org.

Kahului Public Library is located at 90 School St. For more information or to request special accommodations, call 873-3097.

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Haleakala park staff set to host meeting

Youth education and volunteer programs will be discussed at a community meeting organized by Haleakala National Park from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Pukalani in the Hannibal Tavares Community Center’s main room.

The gathering will allow the public to meet park staff and get updates on park happenings.

Local News

County / In Brief

Strong winds slated to last until tonight

The National Weather Service has extended a wind advisory for Lanai and Kahoolawe until 6 p.m. today.

A wind advisory means that sustained winds of at least 30 mph or gusts of at least 50 mph are expected. Northeast winds of 20 to 35 mph with localized gusts over 45 mph are forecast.

Winds this strong can bring down tree branches and make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles, according to an announcement from the weather service.

Maui County Civil Defense is monitoring the situation.

NOAA weather information can be heard at (866) 944-5025. For more information, go to www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl.

Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24 hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System at 986-1200.

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Pukalani meeting has been canceled

The Pukalani Community Association meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled.

Robb Finberg’s discussion on the proposed Aloha Heritage Center in Kulamalu will occur at the association’s May 20 meeting.

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Maui Brewing slated to host Beer School

Maui Brewing Co. will host a one-day Beer School session about lagers at its Kahana brewpub on Thursday.

Industry professionals will discuss the history of lagers, the lagering process, the difference between ale and lagers, and different parts of the world where the frothy beverage is perfected.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $15 per person, which includes beer tasting and light food pairings.

To sign up for the session, call 669-3474. The Maui Brewing Co. Brewpub is located at the Kahana Gateway Plaza, 4405 Honoapiilani Highway.

Roadwork in county set to disrupt traffic

The state Department of Transportation has announced that work on Maui County roads this week is scheduled in the following areas:

* Lane detours will occur in both directions of Haleakala Highway between Kula Highway and Pulehuiki Road from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Thursday for pavement resurfacing.

* There will be lane closures in both directions of Hana Highway between Baldwin Avenue and Puna Road from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today through Thursday for utility work.

* Lane closures will occur in both directions of Honoapiilani Highway between Kahana Nui Road and Kaanapali Parkway from 8 p.m to 5:30 a.m. today through Thursday for road repairs.

* There will be lane closures in both directions of Honoapiilani Highway between Kuihelani Highway Highway and Kapoli Street from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Thursday for road repairs.

* One lane will be closed in the northbound direction of Kuihelani Highway between Honoapiilani Highway and Puunene Avenue from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. today through Thursday for road repairs.

Local News

County / In Brief

Police seek public’s help in ID’ing men

The Maui Police Department released photos of three men connected to a robbery last month in north Kihei and is seeking the public’s help in identifying them.

The incident occurred March 23 at about 11 p.m. when the male victim was walking on the beach at Mai Poina Oe Iau Park toward Maalaea. Three men in dark clothing approached the victim from behind and asked if he had $5 for gas, police said.

The victim said he had the money in his car, and while walking away he was punched on the side of the head and kicked numerous times, police said. His pants were removed and his belongings and vehicle were taken, police said. The man was taken to the emergency room at Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he was treated and released, police said.

Anyone with information about the men in the photos is asked to call Detective Myrna Sabas-Ryder at 244-6433 or 875-5412.

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Prices at the pump on rise, reports AAA

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Wailuku rose 3 cents over the week to $4.40, the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch reported Thursday.

That price was 12 cents higher than last month but 14 cents lower than the same time a year ago.

The state gas price average moved up for the eighth straight week to $4.30 a gallon, up 5 cents from last week and 15 cents higher than last month. State gas prices have not been as high as $4.30 since September.

Honolulu’s average price was $4.25 a gallon, a nickel more than last week and 18 cents more than last month but 11 cents less than a year ago. In Hilo, the average gas price is $4.12 per gallon, unchanged from last week, 4 cents more than last month and 26 cents less than last year.

AAA Hawaii General Manager Liane Sumida said that gas prices are increasing nationwide but only Hawaii and California have prices above the $4 a gallon mark.

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Gray whales topic of lecture at sanctuary

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kihei will host a lecture about gray whales Wednesday evening.

The lecture by Jim Peckarsky, who has studied whales off the coast of Mexico for 33 years, will be held in the sanctuary’s Kihei Conference Room from 6 to 8 p.m. Peckarsky has been studying gray whales since 1981 at San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California Sur. He will share facts about gray whales that he’s learned over the last three decades, show video of orcas, blue whales, gray whales and humpback whales and highlight comparisons between gray whales and humpback whales.

The sanctuary hosts a monthly lecture as part of an ongoing series that features whale researchers and other marine science professionals. The public is invited to attend.

For more information, visit hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

Local News

County/In Brief

Bail continued at $400,000 for man charged in child sexual assault

Bail was maintained at $400,000 Wednesday morning for a Kihei man who allegedly sexually assaulted a child over a two-year period.

Matthew Kawika Asuncion Magnani, 31, is charged with four counts of first-degree sexual assault. A grand jury indicted him Friday, charging him with assaulting a child under 14 years old from 2007 to 2009, according to court documents.

Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo ordered Magnani to stay away from a home in Waiehu and Baldwin High School if he posts bail.

A jury trail is scheduled for June 2.

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Kula man, 23, dies from injuries caused by falling out of pickup

A 23-year-old Kula man died Monday at Maui Memorial Medical Center after he sustained critical injuries Sunday night when he fell out of the bed of a moving pickup truck, police reported Wednesday.

Jared Robello was a passenger in a white 1999 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck that was traveling north on Kula Highway around 7:45 p.m. Sunday, police said. He climbed out of the cab of the truck through the rear sliding window and into the bed of the truck as it was moving.

Robello then fell out of the truck bed, police said.

The truck was operated by another 23-year-old Kula man. The incident occurred near Kealakapu Road in Kula.

The man’s death marks Maui County’s fifth traffic fatality, compared with four at the same time last year.

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Project VISION, WE health event now at Makawao Boys & Girls Club

The Project VISION and WE . . . a hui for health screening event April 28 will be relocated to the Makawao Boys & Girls Club at 931 Makawao Ave., organizers announced Wednesday.

The free vision screening and health assessment event will be held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

For more information, go to www.projectvisionhawaii.org.

Local News

County/In Brief

HC&S to host open house on harvesting

As the sugar cane harvesting season begins, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. will hold an open house from 6 to 9 p.m. April 15 in the Maui Waena Intermediate School cafeteria.

“We felt that an open setting would be a good way to hear suggestions and ideas that will help us better understand the diverse views of the community while updating the public on improvements we have made and will be implementing,” said HC&S General Manager Rick Volner.

The open house, which will be led by a facilitator, will include presentations on HC&S’ harvesting operations and sugar cane harvesting operations in other parts of the world. Other topics to be covered include regulation and monitoring of cane burning and community perspectives on cane burning on Maui.

Attendees will be given an opportunity to provide comments and suggestions and to ask questions. For more information, contact Mae Nakahata at mnakahata@hcsugar.com.

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Bail $400K for man in sex assault case

Bail was set at $400,000 for a 31-year-old Kihei man indicted by a grand jury on four counts of first-degree sexual assault of a minor over a two-year period, court records show.

Matthew Kawika Asuncion Magnani pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday.

Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo ordered Magnani to stay away from a home in Waiehu and Baldwin High School if he posts bail.

Magnani allegedly sexually assaulted a child, who was under 14 years old, from 2007 to 2009, according to court records.

A bail hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

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Man injured in fall from moving vehicle

A 23-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries Sunday night after he fell out of a truck bed as the pickup was traveling north on Kula Highway, police said.

The man was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center after the incident, which occurred at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Police said a white 1999 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, being driven by another 23-year-old man, was traveling north on Kula Highway near Kealakapu Road, when the male passenger climbed out of the cab of the truck through the rear sliding window and into the bed of the truck.

The male then fell out of the truck’s bed while the truck was moving, police said.

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An alleged stabbing incident nets arrest

A 29-year-old man was arrested for second-degree assault last week for allegedly stabbing a 35-year-old man multiple times with a pocket knife in an empty lot along South Kihei Road, police said.

The victim was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in stable condition, police said. The suspect was released pending further investigation.

Police said the incident took place around 1:05 p.m. Thursday in an empty lot near the Kihei McDonald’s. The two men, who have no local addresses, got into a verbal argument that turned physical, resulting in the stabbing, police said.

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Man charged in alleged choking incident

A 46-year-old Kihei man was being held on $5,000 bail at the Wailuku Police Station on Monday morning for allegedly choking a woman Friday, police said.

Robert C. Curry was charged with felony abuse, police records show.

Police said the woman said that she was choked but did not have any marks on her neck. She did have redness to her wrist area, police said.

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Waterline work to result in lane closure

Traffic on Puunene Avenue at the intersection of Kamehameha Avenue will be reduced to one lane heading toward Kihei from 9 p.m. today to 4 a.m. Wednesday to repair a leaking waterline, the Department of Water Supply said.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and to follow signs.

Water service will not be affected, the department news release said.

Local News

County / In Brief

Man, 63, crashes into guardrail, dies

A 63-year-old Kahului man died Friday after losing control of his motorcycle and colliding into a guardrail on Piilani Highway just north of Kaiwahine Street in Kihei, police said.

Clifford Spencer died at Maui Memorial Medical Center from injuries suffered in the crash around 1:56 a.m. Friday.

Spencer was operating a black 1997 Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling north on Piilani Highway, police said. Spencer lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the guardrail on the western shoulder of the highway.

Spencer was transported with life-threatening injuries to Maui Memorial Medical Center where he died. He had not been wearing a helmet.

Northbound lanes of Piilani Highway near Kaiwahine Street were closed from 2:30 to 4:45 a.m. while police investigated the crash scene, according to a Maui County notice.

The death is Maui County’s fourth fatality this year, the same number of fatalities at the same time last year, police said.

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Trolling now permitted in KIRC waters

Trolling in the waters of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve will be permitted today and April 25-26.

All vessels must register with the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission before entering the reserve for trolling.

To register, contact Dean Tokishi by email at dtokishi@kirc.hawaii.gov, by phone at 243-5889 or on the Web at kahoolawe.hawaii.gov.

Boaters are warned that the waters around the island of the former Navy target island could contain unexploded ordnance.

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Maui, Molokai expected to see high surf

A high-surf advisory for north- and west-facing shores of Molokai and north-facing shores of Maui has been extended until 6 a.m. Sunday.

The National Weather Service expects surf to reach 14 to 18 feet on north-facing shores and 8 to 12 feet for west-facing shores.

There will be strong shore break and rip currents, the weather service said.

Local News

County/In Brief

Price of gasoline goes up 4 cents

The cost of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Wailuku on Thursday rose 4 cents in a week to $4.37, the highest of three areas reported in the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch.

Wailuku’s average for the week was 9 cents more than last month and 21 cents less than a year ago, according to the weekly snapshot of average state gas prices.

The state average for regular unleaded also went up 4 cents, but to $4.25 per gallon, 12 cents less than Wailuku’s average price. The average state price was 15 cents more than last month and 13 cents less than a year earlier.

Honolulu’s gas price jumped a nickel per gallon to $4.20, which was 18 cents more than last month and 11 cents less than a year ago. In Hilo, the average price of $4.12 was 2 cents more than last week, a dime more than last month and 23 cents less than last year at the same time.

Average gas prices are derived from fleet vehicle credit card transactions at more than 100,000 stations around the country and are combined averages of the last card swipes of the previous day.

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Cemetery cleanup sponsored by HGEA

The Hawaii Government Employees Association will hold a community workday to clean the Kwong Fook Tong Chinese Cemetery in Waiehu beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, according to an announcement.

The date, April 5, is “Ching Ming” in China, or the “Remembrance of Ancestors Day.”

Volunteers will be clearing overgrown cane grass and haole koa from the cemetery. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For more information and to confirm a head count for lunch, contact Daniel Ornellas at 264-0783.

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Volunteers sought for Red Cross training

The American Red Cross is recruiting volunteers on Maui to respond to disaster areas with free training to begin next week.

To register, visit redcross.org/hawaii and click on “Volunteer” and then “Becoming a Volunteer.” Once applications are completed through the Volunteer Connection system, the Red Cross will contact individuals about signing up for disaster classes.

“One critical piece in preparing our communities for disasters before they occur is having trained volunteers on standby and ready to respond,” said Michele Liberty, Maui County director for Hawaii Red Cross. “We encourage new volunteers to join the Red Cross ohana and support our mission of helping those in need.”

All new disaster volunteers must complete a series of disaster training.

The next series will be held at the ILWU Local 142 Wailuku Union Hall, 896 Lower Main St., in Wailuku. Scheduled classes include:

* Disaster Services: An Overview; 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

* Shelter Fundamentals; 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 11.

* Disaster Assessment Basics; 8:30 a.m. to noon April 12.

* Disaster Action Team: An Orientation; 12:30 to 4 p.m. April 12.

For assistance, call the American Red Cross Maui office at 244-0051.

Local News

County/In Brief

Maui, Molokai expected to see high surf

Surf of 5 to 8 feet is expected to affect the east-facing shores of Maui and Molokai until 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Beachgoers also can expect strong shore break, rip currents and beach erosion. Swimming conditions in affected areas will be “difficult and dangerous,” forecasters said. For more information, call (866) 944-5025 or visit www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl.

Also, the Health Department issued a “brown water advisory” for Honokahua Bay in West Maui on Tuesday because runoff from heavy rains breached a sand berm with muddy water flowing into the bay. The runoff may have been contaminated by overflowing cesspools, pesticides and other flood debris.

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MS, mayor’s budget set to be discussed

Mayor Alan Arakawa will discuss multiple sclerosis and his proposed budget at 7 p.m. today on the TV show “Your County with Mayor Arakawa” on Akaku Channel 54.

The show will be moderated by Communications Director Rod Antone. Viewers may call in questions at 873-3430. The show will be rebroadcast at 7 p.m. April 9, 16, 23 and 30 on the same channel. For more information, call Antone at 270-7855.

National MS?Society plans presentation

Sessions on “Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Management: 4 Hot Topics” and “Using Positive Psychology” will be presented from 10 a.m. to noon Friday by the National MS Society.

Monique Canonico will present the MS hot topics session and Cathie Long will present the positive psychology session at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.

The event is free but registration is required.

Visit www.mshawaii.org or call (800) 344-4867 to register. The program is fully accessible.

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Deadline today for fun guide submissions

The Maui News will be publishing a Summer Fun Guide of activities for children and teens on April 13.

The deadline to submit information is noon today.

Submit the following:

* Name of program and for what ages.

* Sponsoring organization or business.

* Program times and dates.

* Location of the program.

* Description of program.

* Cost of the program.

* Contact information.

Information may be emailed to citydesk@mauinews.com, faxed to 242-9087 or mailed to Summer Fun Guide, The Maui News, 100 Mahalani St., Wailuku 96793.

Photos may be submitted for use on a space-available basis. Shots of people doing things are preferable; group shots are unlikely to be used. Photos may be emailed in digital tif, jpg or eps formats with a minimum resolution of 300 pixels per inch. Individuals in photos must by identified by first and last name.

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Portions of reserve to close for shootings

The state Department of Forestry and Wildlife will be conducting aerial shooting of feral goats, deer and pigs as part of animal control activities April 14 to 16 in the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve.

For safety reasons, during the aerial shooting from helicopters, access to portions of the reserve on the leeward slopes of Haleakala will be restricted and access allowed only by permit.

Aerial animal control is needed to trim populations to protect threatened and endangered species, native ecosystems and watersheds. There may be limited opportunities for the public to salvage meat. Contact the Forestry and Wildlife Division on Maui at 873-3507. Maps illustrating the areas involved may be found at the Maui office of the Forestry and Wildlife Division at 54 S. High St., Room 101,Wailuku.

Local News

County/In Brief

Three arrested in payroll theft probe

Three men were arrested Sunday in a theft investigation involving former employees of a transportation company collecting paychecks in exchange for kickbacks, police said.

The theft of more than $20,000 was reported March 20 by a company representative, said Lt. Derrick Lopez of the Criminal Investigation Division Property Crimes Unit.

He said it was reported that a former company manager had altered the payroll so three former employees continued collecting paychecks after they stopped working for the company, in exchange for kickbacks.

On Sunday, Wailuku patrol officers located and arrested the former manager, a 43-year-old Kahului resident, and two of the former employees, a 42-year-old Pukalani resident and 24-year-old Waiehu resident.

The three were later released pending further investigation of first-degree theft.

A fourth man was being sought in the investigation.

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Sewer line work set to start Wednesday

Sewer line work along Waiale Road at the Kuikahi Drive-Maui Lani Parkway intersection is to begin Wednesday and will create traffic delays, the county Department of Environmental Management says.

There will be alternating traffic weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with access to residences and businesses in the area maintained. Maui police will be directing traffic through the area, and the traffic signal at the intersection may be out during work hours.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes when possible and to follow traffic control signs.

The work is expected to take two weeks.

The contractor, Goodfellow Bros., can be reached at 879-8868.

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Civil Defense test planned for today

The Civil Defense monthly outdoor siren warning system test will be held at 11:45 a.m. today.

The siren test will be coordinated by a live audio broadcast test of the Emergency Alert System.

The siren test is a steady one-minute tone. The steady tone alerts the public to emergencies that may pose a threat to life and property. Besides natural hazards, the Emergency Alert System could be used for terrorist incidents or acts of war.

To report siren operational issues in Maui County, call 270-7285.

Tests of civil defense sirens and the Emergency Alert System are conducted simultaneously, normally on the first working day of the month, in cooperation with Hawaii’s broadcasting industry.

Civil Defense also reminds residents that this month is Tsunami Awareness Month and reminds everyone to be better prepared and to check emergency plans and kits. For information on Tsunami Awareness Month events and activities, visit www.scd.hawaii.gov.

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Alaska fugitive arrested on Maui

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Anchorage police say a 32-year-old man is under arrest after he removed his ankle monitor and fled to Hawaii.

KTUU reports that Joshua Leigh cut the monitor off at an hardware store and left the state on a flight to Maui. A monitoring agency told police that the monitor was last reported to be at a hardware store.

A warrant was issued Saturday for Leigh, who was awaiting trial on felony charges.

Police obtained an extraditable warrant, and Leigh was stopped by Maui police after the plane landed.

Leigh was returned to Anchorage. He’s charged with violating conditions of his release and criminal mischief. Online court records don’t list a lawyer for Leigh in this case.