A 31-year-old man who was missing for three days after his car was found down a Makapu'u cliff pleaded not guilty yesterday to theft, credit card fraud, money laundering and forgery charges.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan scheduled the trial for Kenneth J. Peters Jr. for the week of Sept. 6 on the charges that accuse him of forging more than $40,000 worth of checks in 2003.

The checks were from accounts of Flight School Hawai'i Inc. and AirFrame & PowerPlant Service Inc., according to the charges.

Peters and his lawyer Don Wilkerson declined to comment yesterday.

Peters' 2005 silver Mercedes-Benz was found March 22, triggering a search for him. But police at the time said Peters was the subject of a criminal investigation and may have staged his own disappearance.

Peters was found three days later at Honolulu International Airport on his way back from Bangkok, Thailand.

KAUA'I

BOY, 16, ARRAIGNED IN SCHOOL ATTACK

LIHU'E — Andrew Sarita pleaded not guilty in 5th Circuit Court yesterday to attempted murder and other charges related to a Nov. 22 machete attack on a Kaua'i High School teacher.

Sarita's lawyer, James Itamura, said the 16-year-old Hanama'ulu youth likely will end up pleading guilty to lesser charges. Itamura said he and prosecutors are near an agreement to have Sarita enter pleas to attempted first-degree assault and second-degree criminal property damage. The attempted assault charge carries a possible 10-year prison term.

The Family Court waived jurisdiction in the case and Sarita is being treated as an adult. He is accused of threatening teacher Timothy O'Rourke Jr., with a machete and later smashing windows and slashing tires on the teacher's car. At the time, Sarita was under home confinement for a previous altercation with O'Rourke.

MAUI

COUNTY CALLS HALT TO DROP-OFF SITES

KAHULUI — The county is asking Maui residents to hold off on taking recyclables to drop-off recycling centers until July 17 while repairs are done to a Maui Disposal Co. baling machine that bundles recyclables.

Because of the problem, the company temporarily suspended the hauling of material from the drop boxes to its recovery facility, according to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Management's Recycling Section. The baler, used to prepare materials for shipment to off-island markets or processors, is the only machine on the island capable of handling recyclables from the drop-off centers.

HI-5 redemption centers will remain open, accepting glass, aluminum and plastic beverage containers.

For more information, call Maui Disposal at (808) 242-7999, or for general recycling information, call (808) 270-7880 or check the Maui County Web site at www.co.maui.hi.us/recycle.

HANA HO'OLAULE'A SET FOR TOMORROW

HANA — The Hana Cultural Center's seventh annual Ho'olaule'a tomorrow will celebrate "The History of East Maui Music" with entertainment by the area's musical families and an exhibition of artifacts, photos and musical instruments.

The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the cultural center, 4974 Uakea Road.

MANOA

SIERRA CLUB TO AID FALLS TRAIL REPAIR

The Sierra Club on O'ahu will be helping to restore the Manoa Falls trail throughout August, September and October.

Manoa Falls is the most popular trail in the state's Na Ala Hele system and has become damaged from heavy use and lots of rain.

Sierra club has been contracted by Na Ala Mele to move 100 tons of gravel onto the first half of the trail for this one-weekend-a-month service project.

Sierra Club is looking for volunteers to help with the project that will be done in six days spread out over three months.

Visit www.hi.sierraclub.org /Oahu/oahu-hikes.html#aug05 for more information or call 538-6616.

BIG ISLAND

POLICE SEEK MAN ON FURLOUGH

Police said Christopher Neal Nasario is considered an escapee after failing to report his whereabouts to Hawai'i Community Correctional Center staff.

He was last seen May 17 at Punalu'u Beach Park in Ka'u.