O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Judge delays Rodrigues trial
The trial of union leader Gary Rodrigues and his daughter Robin Haunani Rodrigues Sabatini on federal charges of mail fraud, conspiracy and money laundering has been postponed until later this year.
The trial had been scheduled for Jan. 23. In his action yesterday, U.S. District Judge David Ezra did not immediately set a new date.
Ezra also told the parties that he is strongly inclined to deny four motions brought by the defense, including a request to separate the case into two trials and requests to dismiss kickback and money laundering charges. A written order on the motions is expected Jan. 17 or 18.
Deadline nears for Holocaust survivors
The deadline is approaching for Holocaust survivors and their heirs to file insurance claims with the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims.
People who believe they are entitled to benefits from a Holocaust-era insurance policy must submit their claim to the commission by Feb. 15.
Claim forms are available by calling the commission at (800) 957-3203 or from the Web site icheic.org.
Of the more than 20,000 claims filed to the commission, nine are from Hawai'i residents.
Ma'eli'eli Ridge on the agenda
Development on Ma'eli'eli Ridge, where Japanese developer Gensiro Kawamoto recently demolished two driveways belonging to his neighbors, claiming they were trespassing, will be discussed at the Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board meeting at 7 tonight at the KEY Project, 47-200 Waihe'e Road.
On Christmas Eve, Kawamoto sent a work crew to the Hunaahi Street homes of Jeffrey Schade and 83-year-old Cecilia Murakami to remove driveways that were on the properties since both neighbors moved in.
Kawamoto has said he wants to build a home on his 130-acre property on Ma'eli'eli Ridge in Kahalu'u overlooking Kane'ohe Bay.
The board will also hear an anti-fluoride presentation.
Outage affects 1,800 homes
About 1,800 homes in Kane'ohe lost power Monday night after a 12,000-volt line near Hawai'i State Hospital separated from its support.
"The power line came down but it did not fall on the ground," said Fred Kobashikawa, Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman. The repair crew couldn't determine why the line came loose, Kobashikawa said, and he wasn't sure about the exact location of the downed wire. Homes in Ha'iku Valley were affected, he said.
Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. started receiving calls of the power failure at 10:30 p.m., and electricity was restored at 4:42 a.m. yesterday.
NORTH SHORE
Surf expected to build again
The 20- to 30-foot North Shore waves of Monday had diminished yesterday as surf continued to weaken throughout the day, but a new bump was expected today.
"The surf has gone down a good deal," Jonathan Hoag of the National Weather Service said yesterday. Waves yesterday morning were reported at about 12 to 15 feet, and they were expected to be 10 to 12 feet later in the day.
However, North Shore waves should return to the 15- to 20-foot level today, Hoag said.
