Foreclosures surging in state
HONOLULU (AP) — A report by a real estate research firm says Hawaii foreclosures were highest last month since a state law took effect that changed rules for out-of-court foreclosures.
RealtyTrac released its report Wednesday, showing January had 652 foreclosures actions statewide — the highest amount since June. That’s still 34 percent below the 985 cases filed in January 2011, suggesting that the new law is still having a dampening effect and providing relief to troubled borrowers.
Act 48 gives qualified home owners the option of using a mediator to help with foreclosure mitigation, which is meant to curb lender abuses.
200 passengers left stranded
HONOLULU (AP) — More than 200 passengers on an Air Australia flight from Honolulu are scrambling to find another way home.
Air Australia grounded all flights Thursday after “voluntary administrators” were appointed because the airline has no money to meet operational expenses.
State Department of Transportation spokesman Daniel Meisenzahl says the 225 passengers booked on a Brisbane-bound flight scheduled to depart at 11:40 a.m. on Thursday found out at the gate that their flight was canceled.
They retrieved their baggage and have been trying to make arrangements on other airlines. Hawaiian Airlines is offering affected passengers a $300 one-way fare to Sydney.
An Air Australia flight from Melbourne arrived at about 10 a.m. with 153 passengers.
Marine to be tried in hazing
HONOLULU (AP) — A third Hawaii-based Marine accused of hazing a fellow Marine who later committed suicide in Afghanistan will be tried in a general court martial next week.
U.S. Marine Forces Pacific says the trial of Lance Cpl. Carlos Orozco III will start Tuesday in Kaneohe Bay.
The case involves the treatment of Lance Cpl. Harry Lew, who shot himself on April 3.
Orozco has been charged with assault, humiliating Lew, cruelty and maltreatment. The charges allege he put his foot on Lew’s back, ordered Lew to do pushups, and poured sand into Lew’s face.
Marine charged in brutal assault
HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii-based Marine has been indicted on an attempted murder charge.
Lance Cpl. Brandon Calhoun is accused of beating a 48-year-old man into a coma during a Feb. 8 argument in Waikiki. Prosecutors say Calhoun allegedly punched the victim at least seven times and struck him with a chair. The victim remains hospitalized in a coma and in critical condition.
An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment charging the 22-year-old Kaneohe Marine with second-degree attempted murder. He remains held on $200,000.
