Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
South Kohala man killed in car crash
WAIMEA, Hawai'i — A South Kohala man died early yesterday in a single-car crash on Mamalahoa Highway west of Waimea.
Police said Michael C. Shore, 35, of Waimea, was driving a 1981 Lincoln when he veered off the left shoulder of the road around 2:20 a.m., crossed back across the highway and struck an embankment before overturning. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital and pronounced dead at 7:30 a.m.
Man arrested for 33rd time in raid
HILO, Hawai'i — A Puna man was arrested for the 33rd time last week after police raided his Fern Acres Subdivision residence and allegedly found drugs and firearms.
Acting on a search warrant, officers arrested David Paul Medeiros, 41, and Eloise W. Krause, 36, after recovering approximately an ounce of crystal methamphetamine, 180 marijuana plants, drug paraphernalia and 13 guns, one of which had been stolen, police said. Police also recovered more than $2,500 in cash, a stolen chain saw and a stolen motor vehicle.
Hawai'i County Police Department records indicate that Medeiros has been arrested 32 times and had been out on bail since September on auto theft, drug and firearms charges.
Following their arrests on March 21, Krause's bail was set at $13,750 and Medeiros was held without bail. Both are charged with numerous drug and firearms offenses, along with burglary, theft and auto theft.
Residents warned of BB gun shootings
PUNA, Hawai'i — Police in Puna are warning residents that someone is shooting at people with a pellet or BB gun at Kehena Beach.
Within the past week, two persons were shot, said officer Iris McGuire of the Puna Patrol District. Neither was seriously wounded, although one of the victims, a 43-year-old Volcano man, was treated for a pellet lodged in his neck, McGuire said.
The most recent shooting occurred about 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the beach area. The other incident took place sometime last week. Call McGuire at (808) 966-5835 or the police nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311. Those who wish to remain anonymous call Hilo Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
Kona Outdoor Circle to hold fund-raiser
KEAUHOU-KONA, Hawai'i —The Kona Outdoor Circle's major fund-raiser, Pua Plantasia, will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 7 on the front lawn at the Aston Keauhou Beach Resort.
Plants from 22 growers around the island will be on sale, along with yard decorations, T-shirts, baked goods, jams and jellies. Free workshops will held on the hour starting at 9 a.m. on tropical fruit trees, garden design, flower arranging, and native plants.
At a dinner gala April 6, the Kona Outdoor Circle will honor community activist Kiyono Kunitake. Kunitake, who will turn 91 on April 10, was instrumental in lobbying state and county officials as far back as Gov. John Burns on a variety of causes, including saving the Old Airport Park for open space, according to a news release. Her most recent efforts persuaded the state to support development of a jogging path at the park.
There will be entertainment and silent and live auctions. Tickets for the dinner are $55.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call (808) 329-7286.
Red Cross offering training classes
WAILUKU, Maui — The American Red Cross is recruiting volunteers on Maui.
Free training courses will be offered over four Wednesdays in April. The first is "Introduction to Disaster Services," followed by "Mass Care Overview" on April 11, "Damage Assessment" on April 18 and "Shelter Operations" on April 25.
The training will be conducted from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Red Cross office on Maui, 1063 Lower Main St., Suite 207C in Wailuku.
For more information, call Bill Shanney at (808) 879-6541.
Monday deadline set for benefit run
WAILUKU, Maui — Monday is the deadline to register for the 2001 First Hawaiian Bank Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Hawai'i Special Olympics.
The 1.9-mile run will start at 7:45 a.m. April 7 at the First Hawaiian Bank branch in Kahului. There is a shorter 1.6-mile route for walkers.
The run will finish at War Memorial Stadium, with Maui police officers bearing the torch to kick off the Maui Special Olympics Spring Games. Opening ceremonies and track and field events will begin at 9 a.m.
The competition will continue April 21 with softball at Keopuolani Park.
To register for the Troy Barboza run, held in memory of a slain Honolulu police officer, call Terry Yagi at (808) 244-6416 or Lisa Tomita at (808) 244-6380. To volunteer for Special Olympics, call Adrienne Laurion at (808) 572-4844 or Sandra Stearns at (808) 875-8118.
Judge rejects Kealakekua appeal
A Kona Circuit Court judge has upheld a state Land Use Commission ruling that blocks a proposed golf course and residential development near Kealakekua Bay.
The Land Use Commission earlier had determined that developer Pacific Star LLC could not build a project of more than 100 homes on land designated for agriculture without having the land reclassified as urban.
Judge Ronald Ibarra rejected an appeal seeking to overturn the commission's decision.
Pacific Star LLC wants to build a golf course and 125 house lots on 660 acres next to Kealakekua State Historical Park.
The proposal borders the 1,250-acre Hokuli'a development, just north of the bay. Arizona developer Lyle Anderson is the principle investor.
The Sierra Club, which petitioned the Land Use Commission to require the reclassification last summer, contends the project would threaten the area's historic sites and pristine waters.
Two reported lost on Mauna Loa found
HILO, Hawaii — Two German visitors reported lost on Mauna Loa were found yesterday in good shape near the Red Hill trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, rangers reported.
The two men, reported missing by others, were in good shape, according to a national park spokesman.
He said Dr. Joachim Gentze, 60, and Irwin Inger, 66, were reported overdue by friends staying at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.
The Hawai'i County rescue helicopter and park ground crews took part in the morning search for the pair, described as "well protected" because of their advanced planning before leaving on the hike to the summit of the mountain on Tuesday.
Mail, newspaper boxes damaged
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police have been receiving complaints over the past few weeks about damaged mail and newspaper boxes in South Hilo.
Police suspect the vandals may be using baseball bats or similar weapons to damage or destroy boxes located alongside the roadway, said Lt. Chad Fukui. Most of the incidents occurred in the late evening or early morning hours, he said.
Residents are being urged to immediately report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and to get a description of any vehicles used by the vandals. To report information, call the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. To learn how to prevent similar incidents, citizens may contact the community police officer assigned to their neighborhood or call the East Hawai'i community policing number at (808) 961-2350.
Worker charged in Maui burglary
LAHAINA, Maui — A maintenance worker has been charged with breaking into three rooms at the Sheraton Maui.
Tolan Roadrik, 26, of Kahului, was arrested Monday when he went to pick up his paycheck from a subcontractor that does maintenance work at the resort. He was charged with three counts of first-degree burglary and bail was set at $15,000.
A Reno couple staying in a room at the Sheraton awoke at about 2:30 a.m. on March 11 and found an intruder going through their belongings, said Lt. Lenie Lawrence of the Maui Police Department's Lahaina Criminal Investigation Division. The burglar fled with a wallet containing $195, Lawrence said.
Around the same time, police said, a security guard spotted Roadrik where he was not supposed to be. The guard told the man to return to his work cleaning the pool.
Lawrence said investigators were able to link the suspect to two previous burglaries at the Ka'anapali hotel. In all three cases, entry was made though sliding-glass lanai doors, he said.
