Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

Innocent plea made in tax fraud case

A Honolulu man pleaded not guilty yesterday to federal charges of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service through various tax evasion schemes.

The trial for Royal Lamarr Hardy, 46, was set for Sept.3

Hardy and four others were indicted by a federal grand jury last week on charges of engaging in two separate conspiracies to defraud the IRS. Hardy's organizations included The Cornerstones of Freedom Research Foundation or The Research Foundation, which sold tax evasion programs since 1985 for Hardy's benefit, the charges said.

Hospital facility to be blessed

Castle Medical Center will hold a blessing tomorrow of its new $10 million facility. The event begins at 2:45 p.m. and features local entertainment, hospital tours, blood pressure screening and posture analysis.

The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Medical Plaza and Wellness Center is a three-story, 38,500-square-foot building that will house, among other things, medical offices, a library, demonstration kitchen, exercise and fitness rooms and an auditorium.

Kumu Ellen Castillo and her halau will kick off the event, which also includes a Teddy Bear Clinic and emergency vehicle tours. The blessing is set for 3:30 p.m., followed by entertainment by Olomana & Frank Hewitt and the Kimo Hussey Trio.

Activities and tours of the new center are also planned and Jazz Trio will conclude the entertainment at 5 p.m. For information, visit www.castlemed.com/html /topstory.htm.