City Deputy Prosecutor Thalia Murphy said Daniel E. Jones was considered a friend to the girls and their families, but molested them in separate incidents, at times while trying to hypnotize the girls.

But defense lawyer Myron Takemoto told the jurors Jones never molested the students and suggested that the felony charges against Jones are the result of a "wildfire of hysteria."

Takemoto said the allegations were fueled by one of the girls who was suicidal and who was obsessed by Jones, but rejected by him.

Jones, an instructor at the Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy in 'Aiea, is charged with 18 felony counts of third-degree sexual assault and first-degree sexual assault. He is accused of molesting the girls in 2004 and 2005. At the time, the girls were 12 to 14 years old.

If convicted of first-degree sex assault, Jones would face a prison term of up to 20 years. Third-degree sex assault carries a prison term of up to five years.

Takemoto did not say in his opening statements whether Jones will take the witness stand.