Trial set for man in arms case
WAILUKU - A June 3 trial is set in 2nd Circuit Court for a man who was arrested after gunshots were fired in a Waikapu neighborhood.
During his arraignment Thursday, Christopher Alvarado Hook, 37, of Waikapu pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree reckless endangering, four counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, keeping a loaded firearm in an improper place and resisting arrest.
He is being held in lieu of $70,200 bail at the Maui Community Correctional Center, with a bail hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Police officers responding to Wilikona Place the night of March 1 said Hook was yelling obscenities and threatening to kill the officers before a Taser was used to subdue him. Hook had reportedly used an AK-47 assault rifle to fire shots into the air before police arrived.
During his court hearing Thursday, Hook was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs. He also was ordered to have no contact with the four officers who responded to the neighborhood that night.
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Store grand opening Saturday
The Maui Friends of the Library will hold the official grand opening of its used bookstore at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The event will feature Mayor Alan Arakawa at the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. There will also be cake, food, entertainment and half-priced books.
Although the store opened in November, it is now finally fully stocked with 12,000 books.
The used bookstore opened in response to the closing of Borders, Kahului's only major bookstore, a news release said.
Staffed by 35 volunteers, the store sells books for $1 and up. Proceeds help raise funds for the Maui Friends of the Library, which assists special programs and supplies other needs for Maui County libraries.
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Property assessments in mail
Maui County real property assessment notices will be mailed to property owners today, the county Real Property Tax Division announced.
The notice will show the net taxable value of land and (if applicable) improvements, the amount of allowed exemptions, the person who received the exemption and the classification assigned to the property. Property owners are encouraged to carefully review the document.
If a property owner disagrees with the assessment, general land class or exemption shown on the notice, the owner may file an appeal with the Board of Review. The appeal deadline is April 9, and the filing fee is $75. Appeal forms may be obtained at the Real Property Tax Office or at www.mauipropertytax.com.
The assessment notice is not a bill.
Residents who prefer a paperless version for next year's notice may go to the website shown on the assessment notice and enter the code that appears on the card.
Those not receiving an assessment notice or with questions may contact the division by phone at 270-7297, in person or view assessment information online at www.mauipropertytax.com.
The Real Property Tax Office is located at Maui Mall on the Safeway side of the mall, 70 E. Kaahumanu Ave., Suite A-16.
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Truck fire disrupts traffic flow
A vehicle fire near Mile Marker 14 along Honoapiilani Highway on Thursday afternoon disrupted traffic for about 45 minutes.
At about 2:40 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, they extinguished the fire involving an unoccupied pickup truck with no license plates and a small brush fire nearby, said fire spokesman Capt. Paul Haake.
There were reports of an occupant in the vehicle prior to the fire but no driver was located, he said. There were no injuries.
The fire caused a road closure of at least 45 minutes with a period of alternating one-lane traffic.
The cause of the fire was undermined, Haake said.
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Red Cross to host Hats Off fundraiser
The Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold its annual Hats Off fundraising event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Sunday at Walmart and at other locations in Kahului and Hana and on Molokai on Saturday.
Off-duty firefighters, service members and other volunteers will take their hats off and ask the public to fill them with donations for the Red Cross.
On Saturday, donations also will be solicited from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. at Whole Foods Market at the Maui Mall as well as at Hasegawa General Store in Hana and at Friendly Market on Molokai. Donations also may be made online at www.hawaiiredcross.org. Checks may be sent to the American Red Cross, 45 N. Market St., Suite A, Wailuku 96793.
"In Maui County, our Red Cross volunteers respond to everyday disasters like house fires and floods, providing emergency assistance and emotional support to those affected," said Michele Liberty, Maui Red Cross county director. "Because we are not a government agency, we rely on the generosity and aloha from the people in Maui County to help us provide these critical services for our community."
