Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

Arraignment delayed for Wong

The arraignment of a former Honolulu engineering company executive on a misdemeanor charge of making political donations to Mayor Jeremy Harris under false names was postponed yesterday for one month.

Clayton Wong, formerly the vice president of SSFM International Inc., is one of five people connected to the firm to be charged. The offense carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Another of the five, company president Michael Matsumoto, pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor and to a felony money-laundering charge last month. The other three have not yet entered pleas.

People connected to SSFM gave Harris' campaign committees more than $85,000 since 1996, state Campaign Spending Commission records show.

Prosecutors say people from other firms that gave heavily to Harris will likely face charges soon. Investigators have also questioned whether any city contracts were awarded in exchange for campaign contributions. Harris' attorneys have denied any wrongdoing.

High surf hits North Shore

North Shore lifeguards kept busy yesterday warning visitors not to go swimming and reminding them to beware of some of the biggest waves of the surf season.

With even bigger waves expected tomorrow, lifeguards have their work cut out for them.

Yesterday, with waves reaching face heights of 15 to 20 feet, a high-surf advisory was issued on all area beaches.

"These are real 15- to 20-foot waves," said North Shore lifeguard Capt. Bodo Van Der Leeden.

"All the beaches on the North Shore are on a no-swimming advisory. The surf is just so big that, except for Waimea, there is no paddle-in surfing."

Lifeguards advise people coming to the North Shore to stay way back of the wet sand and to check with lifeguards about where it's dangerous and where it's not.

Waves of 25 feet or more are expected on the North Shore tomorrow.