Tourist in yoga airplane altercation allowed to fly to Korea ADVERTISING Tourist in yoga airplane altercation allowed to fly to Korea HONOLULU (AP) — A tourist whose desire to do yoga on a plane led to his arrest is being
Tourist in yoga airplane altercation allowed to fly to Korea
HONOLULU (AP) — A tourist whose desire to do yoga on a plane led to his arrest is being allowed to leave Hawaii and return home to South Korea.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang previously allowed Hyongtae Pae to be released on bond, but prevented him from leaving the state because of concerns about him being on a plane again.
On Monday, Chang made the modification after Pae’s defense attorney asked that Pae return to the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. Jin Tae “JT” Kim said his client can’t afford to keep staying in a bed and breakfast or to pay to see a doctor for more medication.
Pae and his wife were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary with a Hawaii vacation and the couple was headed home when he was arrested.
According to court records, Pae didn’t want to sit in his seat during the meal service on last month’s flight from Honolulu to Tokyo, so he went to the back of the plane to do yoga and meditate. Authorities say he refused to return to his seat, threatened crew members and passengers and shoved his wife. The pilot turned the plane around and returned to Honolulu. Pae told authorities after his arrest that he hadn’t slept in 11 days.
He pleaded guilty last week to interfering with a flight crew. As part of a plea agreement, he’s expected to be sentenced to time served, which was about 12 days in jail and to pay about $43,600 restitution to United Airlines.
Medication has improved Pae’s mental state and he’s well-rested, Kim said last week.
Through an interpreter, Pae promised that he will return for his sentence, which is scheduled for July. He must also pay $1,250 cash as a deposit before he leaves Honolulu. “I swear to God,” he said, pledging to return.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Ching objected to the arrangement, saying it provides little incentive for Pae to return. He said that once Pae leaves, “that will be the last we ever see of Mr. Pae.”
Chang noted that Pae is 72 years old, doesn’t speak English and has no family or friends in Hawaii. Returning him to incarceration because of his financial and medication problems wouldn’t be appropriate, Chang said.
“He may fly back to Korea, but he must come back to Hawaii,” Chang said, adding that Pae is restricted from any other airline travel.
Thick crowds of sunrise watchers pose risk at Haleakala
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — The National Park Service wants to manage safety and resource protection concerns as growing crowds of people compete for space to watch the sunrise at the Haleakala summit.
Private or rental vehicles have exceeded available parking 98 percent of the time this year, up from 83 percent in 2014 and 94 percent last year.
Some people are parking and walking where they shouldn’t, a Haleakala National Park official said. Visitor safety is also a concern as people venture out to find a better view.
“People want to get away from the crowds, so they go off trail into endangered species habitat, which is also where many sensitive cultural resources are,” said Polly Angelakis, the park’s chief of interpretation and education. “Or they move out on to cliff faces or crumbling volcanic rocks, which are very dangerous.”
The sunrise can draw as many as 850 people in one morning, with a daily average of 600.
“These resources can be damaged both by vehicles and off-road travel by visitors,” Angelakis said.
No plan has been drafted to manage the noncommercial crowds.
Two meetings have been held to solicit public comment on ways to manage crowds, visitor enjoyment as well as the protection of natural resources.
People can submit comments by June 6 via the online Planning, Environment and Public Comment System.
Park officials plan to use the comments as they develop a potential plan.
