Man drowns Monday morning off North Kohala
A man apparently drowned Monday morning in waters off Old Kohala Mill Road, also known as Old Halaula Lighthouse Road in North Kohala.
Hawaii County Fire Department rescue personnel responded to the 11:20 a.m. report to find a man floating face down in waters approximately 200 yards offshore. The man exhibited no signs of life.
Fire rescue personnel aboard two of Hawaii County’s helicopters helped retrieve the man’s body, according to the department.
Police arrest 24 drivers for suspected DUI
Police arrested 24 drivers for suspected drunken driving between Nov. 25 and Sunday; six were involved in traffic accidents and one was younger than age 21.
Police have made 1,213 suspected DUI arrests this year compared with 1,359 during the same period in 2012, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.
Kona officers arrested 13 motorists for suspected drunken driving while South Hilo officers arrested five, according to police. Puna officers arrested three drivers and Ka‘u, North Hilo and Hamakua officers arrested one driver in each district.
There have been 1,219 major accidents this year compared with 1,352 during the same period last year.
To date, there have been 25 traffic fatalities on Big Island public roadways, compared with 37 fatalities during the same period in 2012, according to police. To date, 13 of those fatalities were related to drugs, five to alcohol and six were a combination of both.
State Supreme Court to hear argument in Hilo
The Hawaii Supreme Court will hear oral argument today from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Center.
Court officials said they believe this is the first time the state’s highest court will hear a case on Hawaii Island. It is part of the state Judiciary’s Courts in the Community outreach program, which aids to educate students and the public about its role in government and function in resolving disputes in a democratic society.
The state Supreme Court will hear argument in the case of Collins vs. Wassel, a divorce case that raises property division issues. A brief description and summary of the issues on appeal may be viewed on the Judiciary’s website at courts.state.hi.us. The hearing is open to the public.
Shark attack off Maui leaves fisherman dead
HONOLULU — Officials said a man kayak fishing off Maui has died after a shark bit his dangling foot.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said the shark attack occurred Monday while the man was fishing from a kayak off Maui’s southwest coast.
His fishing partner, who was in another kayak, tied a tourniquet on the man and asked for help from a nearby tour boat, which took the man to shore. He was then taken to a hospital. It’s unclear when he was pronounced dead. The man’s identity has not been released, and the type of shark is unknown.
State and county officials closed beaches a mile north and a mile south of Makena State Recreation Area, a DLNR spokeswoman said. Officials expect to reopen beaches at noon today.
There have been eight shark attacks near Maui this year and 13 around the state. On Friday, a Maui woman suffered nonfatal injuries in an attack.
In August, a German tourist died a week after losing her arm in a shark attack. Jana Lutteropp, 20, was snorkeling up to 100 yards off a beach in southwest Maui when the shark bit off her right arm.
Before Lutteropp’s death, the last shark attack fatality in Hawaii was in 2004, when a tiger shark bit Willis McInnis’ leg while he was surfing off Maui.
Sentencing postponed for airplane threat hoax
Sentencing has been postponed for a Hawaii man who pleaded guilty to making a hoax call to the FBI when he falsely reported a possible hijacker was aboard an airplane.
The new sentencing date for Timothy David Hershman of Kona is Jan. 23 in federal court in Honolulu.
He pleaded guilty to calling the FBI on Jan. 17 saying another man was going to hijack an Alaska Airlines flight.
Authorities determined the other man was aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Kona to Seattle. Two Oregon National Guard fighter jets escorted the flight.
Authorities decided the call was a hoax after questioning the other man for nearly two hours.
Prosecutors said Hershman confessed to making the call because the man had allegedly placed fish guts in his truck.
Judge: ‘Wonder Blunder’ trial to remain in Hawaii
HONOLULU — A federal judge has ruled that a North Carolina man’s trial over a failed University of Hawaii concert that was supposed to feature Stevie Wonder will remain in Honolulu.
Marc Hubbard is accused of scamming the university out of $200,000 and wants to move the trial to North Carolina or Florida. Defense attorney William Harrison argued negative publicity over what’s been dubbed “Wonder Blunder” prevents Hubbard from getting a fair trial. Harrison also argued moving the trial will be more convenient because of witnesses who live far away, including one in Spain.
Judge Leslie Kobayashi ruled Monday that while there has been a lot of publicity, it hasn’t risen to the level of animosity toward Hubbard. She said attorneys may refile the motion if circumstances change closer to trial.
By local and wire sources