Posted on: Friday, June 18, 2004
Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
NEIGHBOR ISLAND
One killed, two hurt in car crash
One man was killed and two others injured in a car crash on the Big Island early yesterday.
Police identified the man killed in the crash in Pahoa as Alika K.A. Kumai, 19, of Puna.
Two juvenile passengers were also injured in the accident, on Nanawale Boulevard near Kehau Street.
Kumai was driving a 2003 Dodge four-door sedan north on Nanawale Boulevard at about 3:30 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, ran off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned, ejecting all occupants, police said.
Kumai was pronounced dead at 5:27 a.m. at the Hilo Medical Center. The two juvenile passengers are listed in fair condition at Hilo Medical Center.
Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors, police said. Yesterday's death was the Big Island's 21st traffic fatality of the year compared with 14 on the same date in 2003.
HONOLULU
Charter schools to get $2.5 milion
Gov. Linda Lingle signed a bill into law yesterday that provides $2.5 million to close a gap in the budget for charter schools.
The bill would also get more money to charter schools earlier in the fiscal year and permits the state Legislature to adjust per-pupil spending for fringe benefits and facility costs.
Arrest made in hit-run death
Police arrested a Mililani man Wednesday in connection with the hit-and-run death of a moped rider early Tuesday on Nimitz Highway and Richards Street.
The man was booked on failure to render aid and second-degree negligent homicide. Witnesses told police a van was speeding and ran a red light Tuesday. The moped hit the van. The identity of the moped operator, a 31-year-old Waikiki man, has not been released, pending notification of his relatives.
CENTRAL O'AHU
Carjacking suspect nabbed
Police arrested a 40-year-old man Wednesday night on suspicion of carjacking a sports utility vehicle and crashing it into the garage of a Newtown residence.
The man, who has no permanent local address, was booked at 9 p.m. on second-degree robbery after being treated for minor injuries.
He allegedly entered a Ford SUV from the unlocked passenger-side door at the intersection of Moanalua Road and Ka'ahele Street and ordered the 22-year-old male driver to proceed to the freeway. The driver refused and was punched several times before jumping out of the vehicle.
The carjacker crashed the vehicle into the garage of a home on Ka'ahele Street. The suspect was arrested nearby.
Garage fire set deliberately
A fire that damaged a garage of an Aliamanu home on Keaka Drive on Wednesday was deliberately set, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane.
An ignitable liquid was used to start the 3:46 a.m. fire that caused damage estimated at $20,000 to the structure and $8,000 to the contents, Kane said.
