Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
WINDWARD O'AHU
Divers rescued off Makapu'u
Lifeguards rescued a dozen scuba divers yesterday after the group became stranded beyond the shore break off Makapu'u Beach Park.
The divers, some of whom were novices, were unable to make it through sets of 6- to 8-foot waves breaking on shore at about noon, said Ron Bregman, acting lieutenant, Windward O'ahu Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services.
Lifeguards swam out to warn them of unsafe conditions, and tried to help them make it through the shore break, but the divers were unable to make it through with their heavy gear, Bregman said.
The divers then tried to swim up to Cockroach Bay so they could get out of the water at Makai Pier, but instead were washed toward the lighthouse at Makapu'u Point by a strong current, Bregman said.
Lifeguards Ryan Reasoner and Peter Erwin used a watercraft to bring the divers to shore, two at a time.
Bregman said the last two divers were nearly at the lighthouse by the time they were removed from the water.
CENTRAL O'AHU
Teen on stolen bike hit by truck
A 17-year-old was in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center last night after being struck by a truck while riding a stolen bicycle.
Police said he was southbound on Fort Weaver Road at about 1 a.m. on a 1998 Mongoose that had been reported stolen. He crossed the center median south of Iroquois Point Road and was struck by a northbound 1988 Nissan pickup truck driven by a 29-year-old Waipahu man.
HONOLULU
Man hit by car after argument
A 25-year-old Honolulu man was seriously injured when struck by a car early yesterday near Ke'ehi Lagoon after an argument, police said.
He was transported to The Queen's Medical Center in guarded condition, while the driver was being held for investigation of attempted murder, police said.
Investigators said an argument had broken out among a crowd gathered near the Ke'ehi boat ramp at about 6 a.m., and the 26-year-old suspect, of Honolulu, got into a late-model four-door Pontiac and drove it into a group of people. Three were knocked to the ground, and one was injured seriously enough to receive medical care, they said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui burglar gets life term
A life sentence has been handed down for a Maui man convicted of burglarizing the homes of three women and sexually assaulting one of them.
Rodney Lanoza, 33, was convicted of 11 crimes, including attempt to sexually assault the other two women. All three burglaries occurred in May.
At sentencing Friday in Wailuku, Circuit Judge Joel August said he was imposing a life sentence with possibility of parole to protect the public.
Defense attorney Lee Hayakawa had asked for a 40-year sentence.
Maui County Prosecutor Richard Bissen had wanted August to impose the maximum possible sentence of six life terms plus 80 years.
The amount of time Lanoza must spend in prison before being eligible for parole will be determined by the Hawaii Paroling Authority.
Man charged in Pahoa shooting
A Big Island man has been charged with attempted murder and other offenses in a Pahoa shooting.
Mark Thomas Taka, 41, also was accused of throwing a hand grenade that failed to explode. He was charged Saturday night.
Police said Calvin Kobayashi, 44, was shot Friday at his home after the two men quarreled. Taka had come to retrieve a boat that Kobayashi was repairing.
Kobayashi was taken to the Hilo Medical Center and later flown to The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu in critical condition.
Taka fled after the shooting, but later turned himself in.
An Army explosive ordnance detail was called in from Honolulu to dispose of the hand grenade, they said.
