Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Superferry set to sail again

The Hawaii Superferry says it has completed repairs to the vessel Alakai and will resume service between Honolulu and Maui tomorrow.

Superferry will operate on an altered schedule tomorrow and resume its regular schedule Tuesday.

The company has not operated the past week because of choppy seas and damage to the catamaran's auxiliary rudders.

Superferry says it completed sea trials Saturday afternoon and the repairs have been approved by the Coast Guard.

4 accused of not supporting kids

A Hawaii County grand jury indicted four Big Island men for "persistent nonsupport" of their children. The charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine up to $2,000.

Deputy prosecutor Rick Damerville said the law has been used very rarely despite being on the books for decades. But there are "likely to be many" indictments now that the Hawaii County prosecutor's office has obtained a federal grant that pays for the hiring an investigator and a paralegal dedicated to child support.

"To me it's just outrageous these individuals are not taking care of their children," Damerville said.

The individuals indicted Wednesday are David Almond, 40, of Hilo, Danny Ray Cox, 42, of Hilo, Obed Kuahiwinui, 48, of Pahoa, and Alexis Fowlers, 46, of Kona.

Haleakala reopens to visitors

Haleakala National Park has reopened the summit to visitors and staff after ice and snow forced its closure last week, a park news release said.

Visitor centers have returned to regular hours, and back country cabins and campgrounds are now open.

Hosmer Grove and Hosmer Grove Campground remains closed, however, because of high winds and muddy conditions.

Visitors are advised to call 572-4400 and press #1 for closure information before arriving.

UH names capital projects chief

A former state Department of Transportation director is taking a new job as Associate Vice President for Capital Improvements at the University of Hawaii system.

Brian K. Minaai will assume his new position on March 1.

Minaai was most recently a Senior Development Director for Marriott Vacation Club in Kapolei. He also served as a director and deputy director of the transportation department under former Gov. Ben Cayetano and was Chief Clerk and Budget Chief of the State Senate Ways & Means Committee.

His other jobs include Senior Project Manager for Kobayashi Group, LCC and Vice President of Project Management for Haseko (Hawaii), Inc.

Minaai is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

In his new job, Minaai will make $225,000 a year and provide direction and control over the planning, development, implementation and integration of multimillion dollar capital improvement projects and long-range physical development plans.

The university has a backlog of at least $225 million in needed repairs and maintenance just at the Manoa campus, where it also hopes to build a new College of Education building, expand the Campus Center and build new classrooms, parking structures and research labs.

UH is also building a new $150 million campus at UH West Oahu and is planning new campuses at Hawaii Community College.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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CENTRAL OAHU

Assault on woman brings man's bust

Police yesterday arrested a 28-year-old Wahiawa man who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend after an argument.

Police said that at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday the suspect and his 30-year-old girlfriend were arguing after the woman had decided to move out. Police said that when she went to the suspect's truck to get her belongings the suspect grabbed her ankles from behind and pulled her out of the truck, police said.

The woman fell and struck her head on the driveway, losing consciousness, police said. When she regained consciousness and tried to run away, the man allegedly chased her and punched her in the back of the head.

Honolulu

Lack of headlights trips up escapee

An 45-year-old prison escapee was recaptured early yesterday morning after he was driving in a car with no headlights.

At about 3:30 a.m., a patrol officer stopped a driver on King and Keeaumoku streets because his vehicle was without headlights. Police said the driver was an escapee from the Laumaka Work Furlough Program, and had been reported missing since Jan. 29.

He was arrested on suspicion of second-degree escape.

Probe of robbery includes arrest

Police arrested a 52-year-old man with no local address for investigation of first-degree robbery.

Police said the suspect brandished a dangerous instrument during a robbery in Honolulu 10:30 p.m. Aug. 29.

The man was later identified and located. Police arrested him at Circuit Court 9 a.m. Wednesday.