Weekly Friday news summary (June 12, 2015) for East Oahu and Hawaii Kai. News sources are available through the web. Links are posted immediately under the story headline.
Man released in murder case is arrested on suspicion of robbery; Man freed in stabbing case jailed in breach of park hours
Gregg K. Kakesako Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, Hawaii] 11 June 2015, 06 June 2015
June 11- Police on Thursday arrested Gary Landis, who was released June 3 from police custody in the stabbing death of an 80-year-old newspaper vendor, on suspicion of trying to rob a 75-year-old woman in Honolulu.
Police arrested at 10:48 a.m. Landis, who has no local address, was arrested at an Ala Moana Boulevard address at 10:48 a.m. Thursday on suspicion of first-degree robbery.
On June 5, Landis was arrested at 2:15 a.m. and cited for being at Kapiolani Park after it closed.
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June 06 – Gary L. Landis was released from custody earlier this week as police continued to investigate the stabbing death of a 70-year-old newspaper vendor in November, but Landis was back in jail again Friday.
Just 32 hours after being released without being charged in the death of Thaddeus “Ted” Pirga Jr. of Hawaii Kai on Nov. 9 on Waialae Avenue, Landis was cited and arrested at 2:15 a.m. Friday for allegedly being in Kapiolani Park after it closed at midnight.
food news: central bakery opens in kahala
Nadine Kam Honolulu Pulse [Honolulu, Hawaii] 10 June 2015.
Someone pinch me. Beyond chasing after Chris Sy, Honolulu finally has a permanent spot for world-class breads with the arrival of Central Bakery in Kahala in the former Kahala Moon/Wahoo’s space next to Olive Tree Cafe.
Bread lovers will rejoice, but so will diners. The name doesn’t reflect that Central Bakery is also a full restaurant serving Italian- and French-style cuisine, with a hint of its Japan roots. . .
Central Bakery is at 4614 Kilauea Ave. Current hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; lunch and brunch service are expected to start at the end of the month. The cost of dinner is about $60 to $80 for two without drinks. Call (808) 777-6700.
[Read more and see pictures at Honolulu Pulse]
elderly couple pulled from burning kaimuki home by neighbors
Hawaii News Now [Honolulu, Hawaii] 10 June 2015.
Family rushed to the home after getting word of what happened while medics treated the couple for smoke inhalation. Neighbors took a step back not wanting recognition just grateful everyone was safe. “Oh my goodness I was sitting here praying giving thanks. It could have been anyone of us,” said Mrs. Adams. [Read more at Hawaii News Now]
State health officials fail to take action against Kaimuki squalor home
Hawaii News Now [Honolulu, Hawaii] 10 June 2015.
The Hawaii News Now video opens along the banks of Kapalama Canal, where homeless are being displaced and their belongings cleared. The video changes locations to Kaimuki, where neighbors can’t get local government to clear a home infested with rodents and roaches, and where they say the owner hasn’t occupied the residence in months.
Excerpt from the website:
A house of squalor in Kaimuki remains untouched with heaps of trash fouling up the neighborhood. Neighbors are in disbelief, wondering what it takes to get help from anyone in the government. City and state officials are well aware of that property where the yard is piled so high with junk you can barely see the home. State officials said its Sanitation Branch had not received any complaints about the home on 2nd Avenue. But one neighbor said she has kept a record of each time she called the state and the city which dates back to 2004. [read more and watch the video at Hawaii News Now]
state feels paris’ pain on [makapu’u] love locks
Nina Wu Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, Hawaii] 09 June 2015.
On any given day, padlocks appear on the rusted, mesh-link fence at the highest lookout on the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail in east Oahu.
Sometimes, a dozen or more of these “love locks,” which are meant to express sentiments of love or commitment, pop up during the week, despite a sign informing the public that they will be removed. There are locks of all shapes, colors and sizes, some inscribed or marked with couple’s names and a date, others left blank.
They are part of a problem that stretches from Makapuu to Paris. The love locks became a serious problem for the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris when a chunk of fencing fell under the weight of the locks last summer. City workers in Paris began removing 45 tons of locks last week to prevent long-term damage to the historical bridge.
While the custom seems to have originated in Europe — some believe it exploded in popularity after a film adaptation of an Italian book entitled “I Want You” in 2007 — the trend is now worldwide.
In Hawaii, state officials aren’t happy about that. [To read more, use Star-Advertiser link above, enter Hawaii Library card # and PIN]
kaimuki grad ’01 ruthie ann miles wins Tony for “Best Featured Actress in a Musical”
KHON2 [Honolulu, Hawaii] 07 June 2015.
The 69th-annual Tony Awards were handed out in New York Sunday evening, and one of them went to a local O’ahu girl! Ruthie Ann Miles in her Broadway debut won the Tony for “Best Featured Actress in a Musical.” That’s for her role in the Broadway revival of the classic “The King and I.”
Kaiser high football standout michael eletise narrows choice from 41 to 10
Hawaii Prep World [Honolulu, Hawaii] 07 June 2015.
After months of being a prized prospect in the eyes of universities from Hawaii to the East Coast, Michael Eletise of Kaiser High School has narrowed his list of 41 BCS offers and one Division II offer to 10 schools.
Koko Crater Stables dying slow death at hands of perplexing city decisions
Kimo Franklin Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, Hawaii] 07 June 2015.
[T]imes have been difficult for KCS [Koko Crater Stables] in recent years, with the loss of the horseback riding trail and the age-related deterioration of the barns on the property.
Issues include the city’s denial of the 2-mile horseback trail ride in Koko Crater and the forbidding of designated stables staff to live 24/7 on the grounds cottage, which had been placed there decades ago. . .
Other concerns such as horse manure (which the gardens could use) and erosion could be mitigated with community kuleana in the crater and soil conservation best-management practices. . .
Regarding the cottage that has been used by KCS staff for decades, the city offers no explanation other than to say that the cottage is no longer part of the contract. Hence, it is no longer available for use. This prevents KCS from having staff present 24/7 to monitor the horses. . .
[To read more, use Star-Advertiser link above, enter Hawaii Library card # and PIN]
bruno mars PORTLOCK HOME sold for $2.7m
Neal J. Leitereg Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles, CA] 06 June 2015.
In its celebrity real estate section the Los Angeles Times reports,
Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars, who bought a tricked-out estate in the Fryman Canyon area last year, has sold a Balinese-inspired home in the eastern part of Honolulu for $2.7 million. . .
The nearly one-third-acre property came on the market last year for $3.5 million and was more recently priced at $2.995 million, records show. Mars, whose real name is Peter Gene Hernandez, bought the house from John Browning, heir to the Browning firearms company, in 2012 for $3.1 million.
interview with stacey aldrich, new state librarian and hawaii kai resident
Mark Coleman Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, Hawaii] 05 June 2015.
The June 5 “Honolulu Star-Advertiser Mark Coleman Column” features Stacey Aldrich, new State Librarian and recent Pennsylvania to Hawaii Kai transplant. Aldrich assumed her new role on April 6. She speaks with Mark Coleman to great length, discussing changes, both professional and personal, as well as highlighting the many services of our state system public libraries: an excellent read. To see the unabridged interview, go to — you guessed it — the Hawaii State Library database, online. (clicking the link above and entering your library card # and PIN will take you there)
Auntie Pasto’s restaurant won’t be opening at Aina Haina Shopping Center in East Oahu
Duane Shimogawa Pacific Business News [Honolulu, Hawaii] 05 June 2015.
Pacific Business News confirms what many of us suspected long ago. After seeing Auntie Pasto restaurant signs go up at the Aina Haina Shopping Center nearly a year ago, then seeing them removed with virtually no construction taking place, it’s true; Auntie Pasto’s restaurant will not be occupying the space.
Hawaii Kai Trash delay makes news
KHON2 [Honolulu, Hawaii] 05 June 2015.
The original news piece is entitled, “Could Oahu trash troubles be solved with new fee?” and asks whether it’s simply an issue of money. KHON2’s Brent Ramadna writes,
“Bulky trash pickup issues are an ongoing problem, but currently Hawaii Kai is dealing with delays in normal trash pickups.”
The piece then goes on to detail a number of issues faced by the City Department of Environmental Services, including truck maintenance and staffing issues.
Alleged fraud has trial set for August
Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, Hawaii] 05 June 2015.
A 58-year-old Aina Haina woman who allegedly used stolen credit cards to make thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases at upscale retailers over a six-month period is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Kathleen Watanabe entered a plea of not guilty Thursday to a total of 23 counts of first-degree theft, first-degree identity theft, second-degree theft, second-degree identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.
Police said they investigated several cases of credit card fraud reported Nov. 21 to March 2 by three women.
At Watanabe’s arraignment in Circuit Court, Judge Richard Perkins scheduled her trial for the week of Aug. 3 and assigned Circuit Judge Karen Ahn to the case. Watanabe is being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center.
An Oahu grand jury indicted Watanabe last week. Police arrested her May 21 at her home.
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