Hawai'i County police, following a long practice in Honolulu, are turning to unmarked cars to catch speeders and other criminals.

Police on Friday said eight members of the Traffic Enforcement Division will use the unmarked cars with blue lights above the rearview mirror, grill and rear deck, rather than the standard blue light on the roof.

The change follows a successful pilot program using one such vehicle, police said.

Police officers driving the unmarked cars will be in full uniform. Drivers who want to verify the legitimacy of an officer should call 911 by cell phone, police said.

"Our pilot program was successful in detecting high-risk drivers, such as impaired drivers, speeders, reckless drivers and drivers who overtook the unmarked police cars in no-passing zones or on the right," said Sgt. Christopher Gali. "We also found that when the lighting system was activated, the unmarked car was more visible than a subsidized vehicle with only a blue roof-mounted light."

KUCINICH TO MAKE ISLE APPEARANCES

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich will bring his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to Hawai'i this week with events on the Big Island, Maui and O'ahu.

Kucinich, D-Ohio, will speak to the University of Hawai'i-Hilo student association on Thursday and at a Maui County Democratic Party luncheon on Friday. His wife, Elizabeth, will appear on Kaua'i on Thursday and Friday.

Kucinich is expected to discuss his universal healthcare proposal at a UH-Manoa forum Saturday afternoon, talk about peace through diplomacy at Kaimuki High School Saturday evening, and appear at a poetry slam at Hawaiian Hut afterward.

Details on his appearances can be found on his campaign Web site at www.dennis4president.com.

Kucinich is the first presidential candidate to visit the Islands for campaign appearances for the 2008 election. The Hawai'i Democratic caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 19.

THREE FROM LOCAL GOP BACKING GIULIANI

Former Republican congresswoman Pat Saiki, Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou and former state GOP chairman Sam Aiona will lead Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign in Hawai'i.

Saiki will serve as state chairwoman while Djou and Aiona will be vice chairmen.

"Mayor Rudy Giuliani is a true leader that has proven he has the executive experience to be president," Saiki said in a statement released by the Giuliani campaign. "The people of Hawai'i want a strong leader they can trust and Rudy is the one candidate that we know we can trust to run the country."

Giuliani, a former New York mayor, is facing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee, among others, for the Republican nomination.

Djou said he is not aware of any plans by Giuliani to campaign in Hawai'i. The state's Republican caucuses are in May.

MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING OFFICER

Prosecutors yesterday charged a 44-year-old man with punching a police officer Sunday in Hale'iwa.

Derek J.K. Pelekai, a felon with two prior convictions and no permanent local address, was charged with first-degree assault on a police officer but was released pending further investigation for a second-degree robbery count.

His bail on the assault charge is $35,000.

Pelekai allegedly struck and scratched a male officer, 42, who responded to a robbery complaint yesterday at 66-135 Kamehameha Highway.