Telescope protester’s trial on hold
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — The trial for a Haleakala telescope protester has been put on hold after the man submitted a motion written in Hawaiian asking a judge to dismiss his case because the man said his right to a speedy trial was violated.
Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo of Kula submitted the motion to Judge Kelsey Kawano before the start of his trial in Wailuku District Court. Kawano said the motion was written primarily in Hawaiian and would need translation to English before he could rule on it.
“Mr. Kaeo, I’m greatly troubled because we were supposed to proceed with trial today,” Kawano said. “I’m informed that a prior oral motion to dismiss for violation to your right of a speedy trial was not entertained, and you were instructed to file a written motion. It puts me in the position to place this before the trial. Your motion needs to be resolved before we start the trial.”
Kaeo, who is representing himself, last appeared in court in March and asked for the case to be dismissed because more than six months had passed since his arrest but was told he must file a motion to the court. He was granted an interpreter for his trial at the March hearing.
Kaeo was among six protesters arrested in the early-morning hours Aug. 2 as dozens of protesters gathered at Kula Highway and Old Haleakala Highway to confront a large vehicle convoy carrying equipment for construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope at the Haleakala summit.
He has pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct, obstructing a highway and refusing to comply with a police officer’s order.
Deputy Prosecutor Terence Herndon told the court that he would respond to the motion in writing after it has been translated.
Sheriffs arrest mistakenly released Oahu detainee
HONOLULU (AP) — State sheriffs have arrested an Oahu Community Correctional Center detainee who was mistakenly released.
The Department of Public Safety says 25-year-old Winston Kailimai was mistakenly released Wednesday instead of being transferred to the state hospital.
He was sentenced Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge and released on probation, but was supposed to have been sent to the hospital after being found unfit to stand trial in a separate assault case.
Sheriffs received a tip that Kailimai was located on Nimitz Highway near Sand Island at around 3 p.m. He was then arrested near the highway.
Remains of seaman killed in Pearl Harbor to return home
WANAMIE, Pa. (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Navy seaman killed in the attack at Pearl Harbor have been identified and will be returned to his Pennsylvania hometown.
The Defense Department’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency says Navy Seaman 1st Class Edward Slapikas will be buried with full military honors on June 2 in Wanamie, about 120 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Slapikas, then 26, was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941.
The battleship capsized and 429 crewmen, including Slapikas, died.
Navy personnel recovered the crew’s remains, which were buried at cemeteries in Hawaii.