In Brief | Big Island & State | 4-17-14

Woman arrested for check theft

Hawaii County police have charged a 23-year-old Waimea woman with eight felonies in connection with a stolen checkbook.

The victim, a 58-year-old Holualoa woman, reported on April 7 that a new checkbook from her bank had been stolen. Police investigation determined that some of the checks were later forged and cashed.

The suspect, Josephine Miranda, was arrested Monday at a bank in Kealakekua, where she had unsuccessfully attempted to cash another forged check from the stolen checkbook. She was taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

On Tuesday, Miranda was charged with two counts of theft, two counts of ID theft, two counts of forgery and two counts of possession of unauthorized personal information. Her bail was set at $22,000.

She remained at the cellblock until her initial court appearance, scheduled for today.

Bow hunting opens at PTA

Army officials are opening several areas at Pohakuloa Training Area for bow hunting from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Training areas 1-4 will be open for bow hunting of mammals only. Hunters are allowed one pig, one goat and one sheep per day, in keeping with state bag limits. Shooting sheep with blue collars is not permitted.

All hunters must check in and check out at one of the following hunter’s check-in stations: Kilohana, located on Saddle Road between mile markers 43 and 44; or Puu Huluhulu, located at the intersection of Mauna Kea Access Road and Saddle Road near mile marker 28. Check out time is no later than 7:30 p.m. each day.

Hunting passes will be provided at the check-in stations beginning Friday after 5 p.m. These passes must be signed and placed on the vehicle’s dashboard. Hunters who do not have a signed hunting pass on their dashboard will be barred from hunting for 30 days.

Hunter access to training areas 1-4 is through any of gates 1-10 east of Mauna Kea State Park on Saddle Road. Firearms, alcoholic beverages, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and recreational vehicles are not allowed in the training and hunting areas.

For more information, call the PTA Hunter’s Hotline at 969-3474, visit garrison.hawaii.army.mil/pta and click on the “Hunting” tab, or refer to instructions on the hunting pass.

Roadwork underway in Hamakua

Road construction in Umauma is ongoing on Highway 19 at mile marker 16.

Hawaii Island police remind motorists to abide by all traffic control signs and devices in the construction area, specifically the traffic control lights at both ends of the bridge.

To enhance motorist safety, patrol officers will continue to monitor these areas for compliance.

Oahu farm fined $428,800 for labor violations

HONOLULU – Fat Law’s Farm Inc. has been ordered by a court to pay $428,800 in back wages and liquidated damages to workers after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the Oahu-based employer in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions. The company has also agreed to pay $31,200 in civil money penalties because of deplorable housing, safety and health conditions for workers, in violation of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.

“Failure to pay minimum wage and overtime to agricultural workers has become distressingly common when large agricultural actors, such as Fat Law’s Farm, establish a clear system of nonpayment or underpayment of wages,” said Janet Herold, the department’s regional solicitor in San Francisco. “This judgment makes clear that the department will not permit the creation of a second-tier workforce in which coercion, substandard housing and underpayment of wages rule the day.”

Nakamoto appointed judge

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald appointed Henry T. Nakamoto as 3rd Circuit Court District Family Court judge. His nomination is subject to a state Senate nomination.

Nakamoto has been a partner in the Hilo firm of Nakamoto, Okamoto and Yamamoto since 1996. Prior to joining the firm in 1992 as an associate, he was an associate with the Honolulu law firm of Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn and Stifel, from 1989 to 1991.

Nakamoto is a civil litigator who specializes in family law, real estate law and estate planning. He has served as a custody evaluator, guardian ad litem and special master for the 3rd Circuit Family Court, and as an arbitrator for the Court Annexed Arbitration Program.

Nakamoto received his law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, in 1989. He is active in professional, public and community service organizations. He served as president of the Hawaii County Bar Association in 2000, and currently serves as a parent member of Waiakea Intermediate School’s Community Council and as president of the Waiakea High School Foundation, a position he has held for nearly 10 years.

If confirmed, Nakamoto will serve in office for six years.

Committee talks focus on Maui water system

WAILUKU, Maui — A Maui County official wants to raise millions of dollars for water system improvements by targeting waterlines, pumps and reservoirs to supply water to drought-plagued Upcountry residents, ranchers and farmers.

Department of Water Supply Director Dave Taylor’s plan is to raise annual rates for water consumption by about 6 percent and then continue charging more than $12,000 for a new water meter. His plan would raise that amount $2,000 each year until it reaches $20,000, The Maui News reported.

The idea is to raise enough money to pay off bonds for $30 million to $40 million in water system improvements.

Taylor discussed the concept Tuesday night for the County Council Budget and Finance Committee.

Residents say the cost should be shifted to the county general fund.

Rancher Brendan Balthazar of Diamond B Ranch said Taylor should consider alternatives to his approach. He said the county could float bonds for water infrastructure, like it would for park improvements.

“Water should be elevated to the most important thing,” Balthazar said.

Another rancher, Edwin Ferreira, said if water meters cost $20,000 or more, “it will surely prevent my family members, my grandchildren, from ever enjoying their own piece of property.”

“(Then) my grandchildren cannot afford to live on the acreage that I have,” he said. “It’s really sad.”

Mike White, chairman of the Budget Committee, said lawmakers would consider a $10 monthly fee on everyone to pay for new water meters.

By local and wire sources