A rescue story
At age 22, Hikari Oberman has already been a lifeguard with the Kauai Fire Department’s Ocean Safety Bureau for four years. And he’s been training for the job his whole life.
Senior annoyed by county tax man
LIHUE — A senior citizen in Kapaa emailed The Garden Island recently to complain about a county employee who told him not to waste his time trying to get a property tax exemption that could save him over a thousand dollars. Here is the nature of the dispute.
Farmer sues police
A farmer is suing the Kauai Police Department and one of its officers, who, according to a lawsuit, placed the man in handcuffs and knocked him to the ground, fracturing his spine and causing nerve damage.
Kapaa man gets 7 years for meth conviction
LIHUE — A Kapaa man was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine in the mail.
Plea bargain settles 6 cases
LIHUE — A Kalaheo man pleaded no contest Monday to reduced charges in a deal with prosecutors to resolve six separate felony cases he picked up last year.
New year, new laws
Here are some of the new state laws that took effect at the start of the new year:
‘The squirrel’ flies
The helicopter involved in a fatal crash last week near the NaPali Coast has a nickname.
Design flaws reported in helicopter model
LIHUE — Mechanical issues with the model of helicopter that crashed into a cliff near the Napali Coast last week have raised concerns among federal air traffic safety officials for over a decade.
OHA audit suspended
State Auditor Les Kondo announced Monday that he has suspended an audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ limited liability companies, after the OHA Board of Trustees refused to turn over complete and unredacted minutes of its meetings.
Wailua gets flash flood for Christmas
A flash flood hit the mouth of the Wailua River early Christmas morning.
Police recruits deliver gifts, cheer to in ‘Stocking’ operation
LIHUE — Mario wanted a tuna sandwich for Christmas. One of his neighbors asked for a ham. Another put a blender on her wish list.
‘Where am I gonna go’
LIHUE — For hundreds of people on Kauai it is illegal to sleep at night for 10 months out of the year.
People like Star Wars
The latest Star Wars movie opened Thursday, and hundreds of fans lined up at Kukui Grove Cinema hours ahead of time.
Evidence out in murder case
LIHUE — Some of the statements an Omao man made to police on the day he was arrested in connection with the death of his elderly landlord will not be admissible as evidence in his upcoming trial.
Settlement reached in church suit
LIHUE — The Mormon Church has settled a lawsuit by a Kauai woman, who accused a missionary of molesting her as a child.
Dreaming of a ‘Crazy’ Westside Christmas
KEKAHA — The Koa Puna Motorcycle Club gave Christmas presents to hundreds of kids on Saturday afternoon.
More threats at schools
Police were on campus at three schools Friday in response to another round of threats posted to social media.
Police finances under investigation
LIHUE — The Hawaii State attorney general’s office is investigating the Kauai Police Department’s finances.
3 arrested at Salt Pond
LIHUE — Kauai police arrested three Westside men Wednesday morning at Salt Pond Beach Park for illegal camping. One of them insists it was nothing more than harassment, and said state and county officials have been targeting them for months.
Oahu woman helps talk down armed man
LIHUE — “If she hadn’t been there to talk him down, he could have taken both of them out,” Merri Murphy said Friday, describing how her friend, Vicki Taylor, helped police talk down a man armed with an assault rifle.