Posted on: Thursday, July 1, 2004

Driver in Waikiki pedestrian death contests license charge

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

The lawyer for the driver of a pickup truck that veered off Kalakaua Avenue on May 26 and plowed into a group of pedestrians, killing one and injuring six others, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court yesterday to a charge of driving without a license.

Police have said that Joseph Puuohau, of Palolo Valley, had no valid driver's license at the time of the Waikiki incident that killed Hikari Ishiyama, 24, a visitor from Japan.

Puuohau was given a traffic ticket April 25 for driving without a license after the truck he was driving was broadsided by another motorist. Honolulu attorney Reginald Minn entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Puuohau, who did not appear in court yesterday.

Minn said that as of yesterday, Puuohau has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the Waikiki death. He said Puuohau has been released from the hospital.

Minn declined to talk about what might have caused the fatal Waikiki incident other than to say he is researching the matter.

Police said Puuohau had agreed to talk to investigators upon his release from the hospital, but has not contacted them for several weeks.

Advertiser staff writer Rod Ohira contributed to this report.