Cruise serves vodka to child
HONOLULU - A company that manages a Hawaii dinner cruise has acknowledged mistakenly serving alcohol to a 3-year-old boy.
Army Spc. Bingyan Cai said her son Michael's orange juice contained vodka while they were aboard the Alii Kai Catamaran on May 26. She noticed her son turning red, acting unruly and mumbling, the active-duty mom stationed on Oahu said.
"He just got really red and he just kept mumbling, 'Momma it's hot, it's hot,' " she said. "He was just so wild, full of energy and tried to run here and there but couldn't even stand straight."
She tried his drink and tasted alcohol, even offering it up to family members and nearby tourists for confirmation. She notified the boat staff and was given bottled water but was told not to make a fuss as to not ruin the ride for tourists, Cai said.
The company that manages the cruise, Roberts Hawaii, apologized in a statement Monday, saying it was mortified by the error. The family received a refund of nearly $300 for the cost of the dinner cruise.
*****
Bankruptcies see drop for May
HONOLULU - Hawaii bankruptcy filings last month saw the sharpest decline in more than five years.
According to U.S. Bankruptcy Court data, there were 219 cases filed in Hawaii in May. That's a 34 percent drop from 334 cases filed in May a year earlier.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday it marks the largest year-over-year decline since October 2006, when filings fell by 94 percent.
Federal Bankruptcy Court Trustee David Farmer attributes the drop in part to a change in Hawaii law that makes foreclosures more difficult.
Bankruptcies fell in all counties. On Oahu, the number of cases fell to 135 from 200. There were 41 filings for Maui County, down from 75 in May 2011. There were 31 filings for the Big Island and 12 for Kauai County.
*****
Ex-bank manager sentenced
HONOLULU - A former First Hawaiian Bank manager who pleaded guilty to embezzling millions of dollars must serve a six-month sentence and pay a $7,500 fine.
Fifty-two-year-old Lani Ann Miho pleaded guilty earlier this year in federal court in Honolulu. Authorities say she created 56 accounts in various names, using the accounts to withdraw money and make loan payments. She fraudulently repaid some of the more than $2 million she obtained, leaving the bank with a net loss of more than $600,000. She paid back the remaining funds.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday her lawyer says her criminal behavior was influenced by her compulsive personality disorder and other mental health issues.
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright says he considered her condition in deciding her sentence.
