Ex-beauty queen to stand trial on drug charges
By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer
Tiffini Limahai, the 1998 Miss Hawaii USA, was ordered yesterday to stand trial on felony crystal methamphetamine charges after she gave up her right to a preliminary hearing that would have included police testimony in support of the case.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu District Judge Christopher McKenzie questioned Limahai to make sure she understood that she was waiving her constitutional right to a hearing to establish that there was enough evidence to send her case to trial. Limahai said she understood.
Tiffini Limahai, former Miss Hawaii USA, was ordered to stand trial on crystal methamphetamine charges. Limahai and her husband, John Limahai Jr. (background, second from left), were arrested as police prepared to raid a Kailua home on Sept. 14.
Limahai is charged with second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, which carries a prison term of up to 10 years, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to five years in prison.
McKenzie scheduled her arraignment in Circuit Court for Sept. 27, at which time she is expected to plead not guilty and get a trial date.
Limahai is also known as Tiffini Hercules, but her lawyer Scott Collins told the judge that Tiffini Hercules is her maiden name and asked that she be called by her married name.
Collins later said it's "extremely premature" to say what the defense will be. He also said he is working on getting Limahai released. She is being held on $15,000 bail.
Limahai's relatives and friends were in the courtroom, but Collins said his client and the family ask that their rights to privacy be respected "because they are going through a trying period."
"She's doing as well as could be expected considering everything that's occurred," he said.
Limahai and her husband, John Limahai Jr., were arrested as police prepared to raid a Paulele Street home in Kailua Sept. 14.
McKenzie yesterday ordered John Limahai, 33, to stand trial on drug charges after police officer Bryson Apo testified police recovered from him .351 grams of methamphetamine, a three-inch straw and ziplock bags. John Limahai is charged with possession of the drug and drug paraphernalia which each carry a maximum five-year prison term.
John Limahai is being held on $25,000 bail. He is awaiting sentencing on Oct. 25 in a stolen car case, his lawyer Victor Bakke said yesterday.
Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.
