Sailor, 32, goes overboard, dies
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Oahu (AP) — A 32-year-old sailor is dead after going overboard from a Hawaii-based ship.
The Navy says the man was pronounced dead Wednesday after a search and rescue swimmer pulled his body from the ocean. The crew of the USS Russell had responded to a report of a man overboard while conducting operations about 50 miles off of Oahu.
The sailor was a 2nd class petty officer who first reported to the USS Russell in January 2009. Release of his identity is pending until 24 hours after notification of next of kin. An investigation is underway.
Docs released in slaying case
HONOLULU (AP) — The federal agent accused of murdering a man in a Waikiki McDonald’s restaurant claims he believed it was necessary to shoot in order to conduct his duties as a law enforcement officer.
That’s the basis for a contentious motion to dismiss filed by his defense attorney last month. But the motion and supporting exhibits were removed from Christopher Deedy’s court file after prosecutors asked to seal the motion, which includes surveillance footage.
A judge ruled last week that a redacted copy of the motion would be placed back into the court file but the original motion and attachments will remain temporarily sealed.
The motion says Deedy had an “honest belief” the actions he took were reasonable. However, much of the explanation elaborating on what Deedy faced has been redacted.
Destroyer back from deployment
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Oahu (AP) — Guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee has returned to Pearl Harbor from a six-month deployment to the western Pacific.
The Navy says the Chafee and its crew of more than 250 sailors were welcomed home Thursday. The ship deployed in November.
Executive Officer Cmdr. Anthony Littmann says the Chafee traveled more than 45,000 nautical miles and executed a wide variety of missions.
The ship participated in maritime exercises, provided air defense for an amphibious task group and conducted fisheries patrols. Their activities also included volunteering to plant trees in Australia and teaching children to play soccer in the Philippines.
10-year sentence for Honolulu sex assault of girl
HONOLULU (AP) — A Honolulu man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports the girl was a playmate of 48-year-old Jhondireck Agpaoa’s children.
Police say he lured the girl into his bedroom in 2010 with pizza.
KITV reports a prosecutor says the assaults continued for up to five months before the victim’s mother discovered what was happening.
North Shore Oahu resort expansion draws opposition
HONOLULU (AP) — A plan to expand a North Shore Oahu resort is drawing opposition by labor union members and environmentalists.
United Here Local 5 is upset that the $1.2 billion project to expand Turtle Bay Resort allows time-share and condo-hotel units that won’t produce as many jobs as traditional hotels. Members of Defend Oahu Coalition oppose the traffic and building and unspoiled Kawela Bay and Kahuku Point.
About 150 people demonstrated at Honolulu Hale Wednesday to urge the city council to reconsider approvals for the project.
Replay Resorts says in a statement that the company is producing a supplemental environmental impact statement that will assess project effects and mitigation measures.
Nabors has heart valve replaced in Hawaii surgery
HONOLULU (AP) — Actor and singer Jim Nabors is recovering from surgery he had at a Honolulu hospital to replace a heart valve.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (http://bit.ly/KyEjTb ) reported Wednesday Nabors had the procedure done at The Queen’s Medical Center.
The 81-year-old Honolulu resident is best known for playing Gomer Pyle in “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” television shows.
He missed his annual appearance at the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day this year to have the surgery.
Nabors had suffered from a severe narrowing of a valve on the main artery carrying blood out of the heart. This causes fatigue.
The condition once considered inoperable, but the Food and Drug Administration approved a new procedure for it last year.
Nabors says he feels more energetic after the surgery.
3-day Waianae fire contained; 1,200 acres burned
WAIANAE, Hawaii (AP) — A three-day wildfire that burned through at least 1,200 acres in leeward Oahu valleys has been contained.
But state firefighters continue to monitor hotspots in the Waianae Kai Forest Reserve, where endangered plants and native tree snails are found. State officials say efforts to fight the fire entails mostly helicopter water drops because the steep mountain terrain makes it dangerous and difficult for ground crews.
Monday’s fire began near Navy property in Lualualei Valley, then crawled over to Waianae Valley and spread into the forest reserve. Flames and heavy smoke required the evacuations of some homes but the Red Cross closed its shelter on Wednesday.
Fire officials say the cause of the blaze is under investigation. It was the largest wildfire on Oahu so far this year.
