Yomeo Eieta, his feet shackled, said nothing during the court appearance that lasted less than two minutes before Honolulu District Judge Leslie Hayashi.

But his lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Marcus Landsberg, objected to news cameras at the hearing. "I think it's racist to show a Micronesian man in chains on the evening news, but they don't show any pictures of good Micronesians doing good work," he said.

Hayashi overruled that objection. News cameras have been permitted in state courtrooms for more than 20 years.

The allegations of rape stunned and angered Wai'anae residents.

Eieta is accused of approaching the girl outside the Wai'anae Neighborhood Community Center Thursday night, grabbing her arm and leading her to a nearby vacant lot. He then allegedly carried her into the brush and assaulted her, police said.

Eieta was arrested about 8:30 Saturday night.

Eieta, a native of Chuuk (Federated States of Micronesia), who is unemployed, is being held on $150,000 bail. His sister Asa Rebwak, said this week her brother came from Chuuk several years ago, but is homeless and has been staying with her.

A court-appointed Chuukese interpreter, Yosani Esa, was with Eieta during yesterday's hearing.

The judge confirmed Eieta's bail of $150,000 and scheduled a hearing Thursday to determine if he should face trial. Eieta is charged with four counts of first-degree sex assault, one count of third-degree sex assault and kidnapping. A conviction for first-degree sex assault carries a mandatory 20-year maximum prison term.

City prosecutors, however, could seek an indictment before the O'ahu grand jury that would also send the case to trial and cancel the Thursday hearing, sparing the girl from having to testify at the public proceeding. Grand jury sessions are confidential.