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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, October 17, 2004

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Sailboat from Maui overdue

Advertiser Staff

U.S. Coast Guard officials were searching the coast of Maui last night for a 52-foot sailboat that was supposed to have arrived in Honolulu at noon yesterday, officials said.

Friends of the missing boaters, who were not identified, called the Coast Guard at 5 p.m. yesterday, reporting that they hadn't heard from the boaters, said U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Marsha Delaney. If no word comes in on the boaters, the search will resume today, Delaney said. The boaters left Maui at 8 a.m. Thursday and were due in Honolulu at noon yesterday, she said. If anyone has seen the boat, the Coast Guard is asking they call 541-2450.



Ex-police officer arrested in raid

A former Honolulu police officer, convicted in 1992 of planning burglaries of Hawai'i Kai homes, was arrested yesterday during a drug raid at a Kalihi home.

Rogelio "Roger" Mata, 62, was charged with the investigation of dangerous drug promotion and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police. Over the past four months, undercover officers made controlled buys of ice from the occupants of the home at 1723 Kamehameha IV Road in Kalihi, police said.

Also arrested were three men with outstanding warrants, and a woman, Cindy Smith, 42, police said.

In 1992, Mata was found guilty of conspiring to burglarize four Hawai'i Kai homes and sentenced to a 10-year prison term. Mata had been a patrol officer in Hawai'i Kai and would learn details about homes, then pass that information along to another man who would use the information to burglarize the homes during a six-month period in 1990. The second man, Leslie Okumura, was sentenced to an extended 20 years in prison for his role in the 1990 burglaries.

Mata was a police officer from 1971 until he was fired in 1992.



Man, 62, injured in shooting

A man was shot by his girlfriend late Friday night at a Middle Street home in Kalihi, police said.

The woman, 47, picked up the gun from a night table next to the boyfriend, and it went off, shooting the boyfriend, 62, in his hand and chest, said Ho-nolulu Police Lt. Danny Lopez.

The woman was arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.

The man was in good condition yesterday at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.



Heist backfires; suspect captured

A man and his friends disarmed a would-be robber early yesterday morning and held the suspect down until police arrived, police said.

At 2 a.m. yesterday on Saratoga Road in Waikiki, a 21-year- old man approached another man and demanded his wallet at knifepoint. The victim, also 21, and his friends wrested the knife away and held the suspect down.



Forum to discuss community pride

'Ewa and 'Ewa Beach residents are invited to an Oct. 27 forum to discuss ways to build pride in the community and at Campbell Complex schools.

The forum will be at the Holomua Elementary School cafeteria, 91-1561 Keaunui Drive, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Free bento and baby-sitting service will be provided for those who place requests by Friday. Call Rowena Martinez at 689-1213 for reservations.

The event is being financed by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.



Repairs to slow 'Ewa road traffic

Lane closures will slow traffic flow on Fort Weaver Road in 'Ewa.

From tomorrow through Friday, the left lane will be closed to northbound traffic near the Laulaunui Street intersection from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. because of drainage work. The right and left lanes in the southbound direction will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hawaiian Electric Co., meanwhile, will be constructing a 200-foot ductline from the corner of Hanakahi Street to a new manhole on Fort Weaver Road, shutting down one town-bound lane in the area beginning Oct. 25.

After the ductline and manhole work is competed, HECO will be installing electrical lines.

The project will take about six weeks to complete. Work will occur on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.



Halloween bash at 'Ewa Beach

The annual Halloween Bash at 'Ewa Beach Community Park will be Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.

The bash is sponsored by the 'Ewa Beach Community Association and 'Ewa Beach Lions Club. There will be a haunted house and booths for food, games and crafts.

Saturday night's events will include entertainment and a costume contest.

Call Eileen Lynn at 689-3219 for information.



Libraries to mark Teen Read Week

The state library system will celebrate Teen Read Week this week, with a number of story- tellers and guest speakers at selected libraries statewide.

Keeping with the theme "It's Alive! @ Your Library," teens will be encouraged to read mysteries, science fiction, horror stories, and books about forensics and the world around them.

Several storytellers will read spooky stories. Teen literature author James Mariotte will speak at several libraries.

For schedules and more information, call your local library for details.