Schools, offices to close Good Friday
WAILUKU - Schools, public libraries, and state and county offices will close Friday in observance of Good Friday.
Regular curbside trash pickup will continue in Maui County, however.
Holiday landfill hours will be: 6 a.m. to noon at the Central Maui Landfill, 9 a.m. to noon at the Olowalu Recycling & Refuse Convenience Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hana Landfill and 8 a.m. to noon at the Molokai Landfill.
The Waiehu Golf Course will be open for normal hours of operation and most county pools are scheduled to be open on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Kokua Pool and the new and old Wailuku pools are expected to be closed due to staff shortages on Good Friday.
The 50-meter pool at the Upcountry Pool Complex, which closed for filter repairs last month, will remain closed this week while that work is completed. On Easter Sunday, the Kahului Pool is expected to be closed with all others open for regular hours.
Swimmers are encouraged to check pool schedules by calling the Maui County pools information line at 270-8208. The recorded message is updated by 9 a.m. daily.
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Bail stays for man in sex assault case
WAILUKU - Saying a defendant was a danger to the community, a judge kept bail at $750,000 for a Kahului man charged with 50 counts of sexual assault on a girl, who is a relative.
A June 2 trial is scheduled in 2nd Circuit Court for Edward Kuhia Jr., 35, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Deputy Public Defender Jim Rouse asked that bail be reduced to $500,000.
But Deputy Prosecutor Mark Simonds said the higher bail amount should remain. He said additional charges may be brought against Kuhia for assaults on another relative.
Second Circuit Judge Richard Bissen noted that the charges included 17 counts of first-degree sexual assault and 33 counts of third-degree sexual assault over an 11-year period from 1997 to 2008.
"The court does find the defendant is a danger to the community," Bissen said.
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MPD chief hiring comments sought
WAILUKU - The Maui County Police Commission will accept public testimony about applicants for the position of police chief.
Meetings are scheduled at 10 a.m. April 15 at the chief's library at the Wailuku Police Station and at 10 a.m. May 6 at the Hawaii Government Employees Association conference room at the David Trask Building, 2145 Kaohu St. in Wailuku.
Police Chief Tom Phillips is retiring June 1 after more than 30 years with the Maui Police Department, including almost 11 years as chief.
The commission expects to publicly announce its selection for chief at its meeting May 20.
Anyone with questions can contact commission Chairwoman Doreen Gomes by calling 244-6440 or by writing to Maui Police Commission Secretary, Maui Police Department, 55 Mahalani St., Wailuku 96793.
