Court rules nine-vote primary loss stands
The state Supreme Court ruled Alex Sonson, who lost the primary election by nine votes to incumbent Rep. Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City-Waipahu), is not entitled to a recount or a new election under state law.The court affirmed Takumi's victory in the Sept. 19 primary.
The Sonson ruling is the last of four petitions filed after the primary election by candidates who alleged that voter confusion over a new ballot system cost them a chance to advance to the general election.
Last week, Sonson filed an additional petition with seven affidavits from voters who said they voted for him but confusion over the new system caused their ballots to be disqualified.
The court, however, noted that Hawaii law is clear that candidates must show there are enough voters to change the outcome of the election and the evidence must be provided within six days of the primary election.
Kailua sewage plant work to reduce odors
Maintenance work will be conducted today and tomorrow at Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.The city planned to temporarily shut down the primary odor control system from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
But if there are no tradewinds, work will be postponed, the city said.
The maintenance work is necessary to improve the system and reduce objectionable smells coming from the plant, the city said.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffGunmen sought in hotel attendant robbery
Police are searching for two men who robbed a parking attendant at the Ala Moana Hotel at gunpoint last night.The two men brandished a handgun and demanded money at 8:55 p.m., police said.
The two men then ran away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Man arrested in rape of 14-year-old girl
Police yesterday arrested a 36-year-old man in Waianae in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old girl.The girl reported she was sexually assaulted by the man on Saturday, police said.
The man was booked for first and third-degree sexual assault.
Boy arrested in wrench beating in Salt Lake
A 15-year-old boy was arrested last night in Salt Lake after allegedly beating a man with a wrench.At 9 p.m., the man, 40, confronted the boy at their Aliamanu Street home about not going to school, police said.
The boy apparently would not listen to the man and turned up the volume on a stereo.
During the argument, the boy took a wrench and reportedly hit the man in the head.
The man, who had three teeth knocked out, was taken to Tripler Hospital.
Second Big Isle traffic victim is identified
WAIMEA, Hawaii -- Police have identified the second victim of a double traffic fatality on the Big Island's Kawaihae Road Thursday as Meili Valele, 55, of Tonga.Valele and another victim, Ahofono Aholalei, also known as Aholelei, 55, of Kailua-Kona were killed when they were struck by a motorist while changing a flat tire by the roadside about 5:30 p.m.
Valele's name had been withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
The 40-year-old driver of the car that struck the men was not charged, but a negligent homicide investigation is continuing.
Beach campers blamed for Haleiwa brush fire
Fire investigators determined that yesterday's brush fire near Haleiwa Elementary School was started by beach campers who were cooking.Three fire companies and a helicopter battled the brush fire behind the school which started about 9:15 a.m. yesterday.
The blaze, which took two hours to extinguish, scorched more than two acres of brush.
No injuries were reported.
Kona accident kills man, injures woman
KAILUA-KONA -- A Kona man was killed and his passenger was critically injured when his Honda CRX went out of control and ran off Queen Kaahumanu Highway in North Kona at 5:26 a.m. yesterday, police said.The driver was identified as Earl T. Barrozo, 32, of Kailua-Kona. The identity of the 18-year-old woman riding with him was not immediately released.
She was taken to Queen's Hospital in critical condition.
Barrozo's death was the 31st of the year on the island compared to 25 at the same time last year.
Big Isle woman dies after rescue attempt
WAIMEA, Hawaii -- A Big Island woman has died following an attempt to save her two sons from a rip current in west Hawaii waters, police said.The boys were saved by other people.
Carol Rasmussen, 43, of Volcano, died yesterday at North Hawaii Hospital following the incident Saturday afternoon in which she jumped into the water off a rocky area north of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, police said.
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