Police searching for missing man
Hawaii Island police are searching for a 77-year-old Puna man who was reported missing.
Johannen Poche of Hawaiian Beaches was last seen around 8 a.m. Friday in Pahoa, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.
He is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds with white/silver hair and brown eyes. He walks hunched over and was last seen wearing a red long-sleeved sweater, dark blue sweatpants and a hat.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Puna man to stand trial for ’08 sex assault
A 33-year-old man who allegedly fled to Mexico after being accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl in 2008 in Puna will stand trial on multiple felony offenses.
Mauro Martin Ortiz on Friday pleaded not guilty to one count kidnapping, seven counts first-degree sex assault and five counts third-degree sex assault before 3rd Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura. Nakamura set Ortiz’s trial for 9 a.m. May 12 in Hilo.
Nakamura also maintained bail at $1 million for Ortiz, who appeared at the court hearing in custody.
The charges stem from an incident reported early June 22, 2008, in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision of Puna, where Ortiz lived at the time. Police said at the time that the victim didn’t suffer any physical injuries other than the sex assault.
Ortiz was indicted July 10, 2008, by a Big Island grand jury, but police were unable to locate him. Ortiz was brought back to Hilo from Mexico by U.S. Marshals and was arrested Thursday by Hawaii County Police Department officers.
First-degree sexual assault and kidnapping a Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Third-degree sexual assault is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Blood Bank of Hawaii honors top donors
The Blood Bank of Hawaii on Friday honored the Big Island’s top blood donors during the nonprofit’s annual luncheon.
Volcano resident Linda Quarberg, 68, has donated 197 pints over the past decade while Kona resident Jay Tomokiyo has donated 222 pints.
In 2013, according to the blood bank, Big Islanders donated 7 percent, or approximately 3,920 pints, of the 56,000 blood and platelets collected for Hawaii patients.
The blood bank holds the annual event in January, Blood Donor Month, to thank its volunteers and donors.
Police on the lookout for three wanted men
Big Island police are asking the public for help locating an unidentified man wanted in an attempted bank robbery, a Hilo man wanted on warrants and for questioning, and a Kailua-Kona man wanted for abuse.
Just before 6 p.m. Jan. 10, an unidentified man entered the Territorial Savings Bank branch on Makaala Street in Hilo and produced a note demanding money, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. He then left the bank without any money and was last seen running toward Pohaku Street.
The man was described as Caucasian, in his mid-to-late 20s, about 6 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 185 to 200 pounds with short wavy black hair and acne, according to police. He was wearing jeans, a blue-and-black striped pullover, and black shoes with red laces.
Keahi Calvin Sale, 25, is wanted on no-bail warrants and for questioning in unrelated investigations. Sale is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He has no permanent address but frequents the Hilo area. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Moala Kuahuia Kaupu, 21, of Kailua-Kona is wanted for abuse of a family/household member. Kaupu is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds with brown eyes and short curly black hair, according to police. His ears are pierced and he has a scripture tattoo on an inner forearm.
Anyone with information about any of these men should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
The cases will be highlighted on “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted,” a project of Crime Stoppers Hilo Inc. — a partnership of the business community, media and the police. The episode begins airing today at 5:30 p.m. on Na Leo O Hawaii Community Television Channel 54. The program also airs Sundays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. on Channel 54 and intermittently on Channel 53.
Multi-ship exercise underway
Seven Hawaii-ported and two San Diego-based surface ships are taking part in an integrated maritime exercise in waters off the Hawaiian Islands.
The Koa Kai — Sea Warrior — exercise prepares independent deployers in multiple warfare areas while also providing training in a multi-ship environment, according to the Commander, Navy Region Hawaii &Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Public Affairs Office. Participants will conduct integrated flight operations, and anti-surface and antisubmarine training.
“Koa Kai provides an opportunity to exercise multiple warfare disciplines to ensure our ships maintain warfighting readiness and the capability to operate forward on short notice,” Rear Adm. Rick Williams, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii &Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific said in a prepared statement. “Koa Kai is integrated, challenging, state-of-the-art training for our sea warriors here in the Middle Pacific that helps us achieve full deployment readiness.”
He added, “We will show, test and assess our capabilities in coordination with the Navy’s premier testing and training range — Pacific Missile Range Facility” located on Kauai.
The weeklong exercise got underway Friday. The office said it is unlikely any of the exercises will be visible from Hawaii Island.
The San Diego-based ships participating are the USS Cape St. George and USS Lake Champlain. Hawaii-ported ships participating are the guided-missile cruisers USS Port Royal, USS Lake Erie, and USS Chosin; and guided-missile destroyers USS Michael Murphy, USS Halsey, USS Chung-Hoon and USS O’Kane. The ships will be joined by an underway replenishment ship, the HMCS Protecteur from Canada and assets from Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37; Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2; VMFA-224, 24 Maritime Air Group, Hawaii Air National Guard, and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.
DLNR seeks help with Kauai albatross deaths
The Department of Land and Natural Resources is asking the public for help identifying the owner of two dogs recently seen attacking ground-nesting Laysan albatrosses in Moloaa on Kauai.
The dogs were reportedly photographed and their images included on fliers being distributed in the community, according to the DLNR.
Since December, a string of albatross killings has been reported at two coastal properties on the northeast shores of Kauai.
A total of 17 birds have been found mauled to death at Moloaa by dogs this season, according to the DLNR. The total number of albatross killed on Kauai this season is 26 birds.
Any person who recognizes the dogs or knows who the dogs’ owners are should call the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife at 274-3521 or 274-3433. After hours, weekends and holidays, call the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Hotline at 453-6780.
Maui paratransit riders complain about service
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui residents using a new transportation system for disabled riders complained to a County Council panel this week about long wait times, untrained drivers and the service’s recently installed computer system.
After hearing the complaints Thursday, officials directed Maui Economic Opportunity to spend the next three months improving its program and report back to the council’s Housing, Human Services and Transportation Committee.
The Maui News reported one rider, Vivian Lindsey, told the panel people are like “a bunch of suitcases.”
MEO took over the program last July after the service had been run by Roberts Hawaii for five years through a county transportation contract.
Maui Economic Opportunity’s CEO Lyn McNeff said her agency is allowed a 30-minute window for pickups under Americans with Disabilities Act rules.
Fatal 2-vehicle Laie crash investigated
HONOLULU — A two-vehicle crash in Laie, Oahu, that killed a man is under investigation.
KHON-TV reported the crash occurred Thursday afternoon on Kamehameha Highway near Pounders Beach.
The name of the man who died was not immediately released. Responders said he was in his 80s and died at the scene.
Three women were transported to Queen’s Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
Teen accuses Guam teacher of rape
HAGATNA, Guam — A Guam high school teacher is accused of raping an 11-year-old girl more than six years ago.
Francis Jude Taitano is charged with criminal sexual conduct in the alleged 2007 rape.
Pacific Daily News reported Friday the alleged victim is now 17 and she told police that Taitano was drunk when he raped her.
Defense attorney Mark Kondas said the girl has visited Taitano’s family many times, raising questions about her credibility.
The George Washington High School teacher is being held on $75,000 cash bail.
Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Robb Malay said the department is aware of the allegations and will determine if any action will be taken.
By local and wire sources