FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 | WEST HAWAII TODAY 8A IN BRIEF | BIG ISLAND & STATE Man indicted in fatal hit-and-run BY GRAHAM MILLDRUM WEST HAWAII TODAY gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com KEALAKEKUA — A man was indicted for allegedly killing a moped driver in Ocean View on Jan. 20. Jose Guadalupe- Rodriguez, 22, of Ocean View, is charged with first-degree negligent homicide, manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, and failure to stop at an accident involving death or serious bodily injury. Ling Oniel, 29, also of Ocean View, was driving a black moped on Kona Drive at the intersection with Paradise Parkway. Police said a sedan failed to yield to Oniel and struck his moped, then fled the scene. The indictment came out March 15 and a $75,000 bench warrant was issued the following day. Guadalupe-Rodriguez was not in custody Thursday and no court dates have been set. Tawnee K. Lee, 23, Ocean View, was arrested on suspicion of failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury. She has not been charged. ETHICS: According to the county ethics code, penalties can include suspension or removal from office Come see for yourself! Kailua-Kona Sonrise Celebration Old Airport Sunday, March 27 Brought to you by Kona Ministers’ Fellowship Hokuloa United Church of Christ 69-1600 Puako Beach Drive (from Highway 19 between Hapuna Beach and the Mauna Lani Resort) Hawaii Island unemployment rate goes unchanged KAILUA-KONA —Hawaii Island’s unemployment rate held steady during February, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported Thursday. Some 3.8 percent of the island’s 91,350 person labor force remained without work during February, the same as the month prior, according to state data. That’s down from 4.9 percent in February 2015. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, down from 3.2 percent in January, according to the department, which also noted that the last time the state unemployment rate was at 3.1 percent was November 2007. A year ago, 3.9 percent of the state’s labor force was unemployed. Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent. Some 7.8 million people were unemployed during February, also unchanged February. Across the state of Hawaii, 21,150 people were unemployed in February, down from 21,600 in January and 22,350 in December 2015. A year ago, 26,700 people were without employment statewide, according to the state. Hawaii Island’s labor force in February comprised 91,350 people, of whom 87,900 held jobs, according to preliminary statistics kept by the state. The greatest job gains were reported in trade, transportation and utilities, and construction sectors, which each saw 800 positions added. Jobs were also added in leisure and hospitality (300), education and health services (200), manufacturing (200), other services (200), and financial activities (100). About 100 positions were cut in the professional and business services sector. Detectives send 2013 murder investigation to prosecutors Hawaii Island police have opened a murder investigation in connection with the 2013 death of a 38-year-old Pahoa man. The case, which was initially classified been reclassified to a second-degree murder, police said Thursday. Police have identified a suspect but no one has been arrested in connection with the death of Shayne Yoshi Kalani Kobayashi. On Jan. 18, 2013, police discovered the “ATV Trail Park” near Stainback Highway in Hilo. The body was identified Kobayashi, according to the Hawaii Police Department. Kobayashi had last been seen at his Pahoa home on Dec. 11, 2012. In a Jan. 24, 2013, media release police said investigators believed foul play was involved, however, they were awaiting additional pathology and toxicology cause of death. The case has been routed to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review. No new dengue cases Thursday KAILUA-KONA — No new cases of dengue fever were confirmed Thursday on Hawaii Island. Since the start of the outbreak in MARCH’S SPECIALS: 30% OFF SPANISH CEDAR DOOR GUIDES (OLD) as a coroner’s inquest, has a badly decomposed body off Jan. 24 via dental records as findings to determine the exact BLUM MOTION #562 SERIES IN-STOCK REV-A-SHELF ACCESSORIES Lamello Products 10% off – Biscuits & Glue Bottles LUMBER | PLYWOOD | MOULDINGS | HARDWARE CABINET SUPPLIES, BLUM, ACCURIDE, HAFELE, ETC EASTER WORSHIP Celebrations March 27, 2016 7 A.M. & 9 A.M. Special Music: Ursula Vietze, violin, Julie Salis, cello, Julia Taylor, keyboard at the 9 a.m. service Children’s program; ages 3-13 and Easter Egg Hunt after the worship service 883-8295 Why do over 1,000 people go yearly to the Old A to celebrate at 6:00 on a Sunday morning? 35th Annual St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church EASTER SERVICES March 27, 2016 54-3801 Akoni Pule Highway Kapaau, HI 96755 • 889-5390 (Take Highway 270 North to Kapaau 1 mile past 22 mile marker on the left side) 9:00 AM First Eucharist of Easter with special music and an Easter Egg Hunt to follow 5:30 AM The Great Vigil of Easter with the kindling and blessing of the New Fire The Rev. Diana Akiyama, Vicar KONA HARDWOODS A Division of Roy Lambrecht Woodworking, Inc. Beautiful Koa, Mango, Monkeypod, Ohia & More 329-2877 73-5573 KAUHOLA STREET • KAILUA-KONA WWW.ROYLAMBRECHTWOODWORKING.COM September, 263 cases of the mosquito borne virus have been confirmed on the island, according to the state Department of Health. The most recent case was reported Wednesday and the last onset of illness was March 17. None of the cases are considered potentially infectious to mosquitoes. Of the confirmed cases, 237 area Hawaii Island residents and 26 are visitors. Forty-six have been children younger than age 18. While 263 cases have been confirmed, 1,526 reported potential cases have been excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria. University of Guam starts sex misconduct awareness training HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — University of Guam officials have announced a new program that will provide students and employees with sexual misconduct awareness training. The Pacific Daily News reports that officials say students and faculty will be required to take the training, which takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete, each year. Students will take the training online, while university employees must attend the training in person. The requirement comes as psychology Professor Michael Ehlert faces charges of criminal sexual misconduct and official misconduct. Court documents say he is accused of forcing or coercing two students to accomplish an act of sexual penetration in October 2014. Ehlert, who is on administrative leave, has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial. By West Hawaii Today staff and wire sources 2015, Kenoi spent about $130,000 with the card, which includes county and noncounty expenses. During the time period, he reimbursed taxpayers for about $22,000 in personal charges and later kicked in about $9,500 more after it was reported a year ago that he used the card to cover an $892 tab at Club Evergreen in Honolulu. Among other personal charges were for a surfboard, bicycle, campaign expenses and bar association fees. According to the county ethics code, penalties can include suspension or removal from office, in addition to unspecified remedies. Hyland said he’s glad to see the complaint resurrected but wasn’t confident the board would rule against Kenoi, especially as he nears the end of his term in December. “I think they will just shush the whole thing again,” he said. Kenoi likely won’t feel much heat from the County Council following the charges. Several council members said Thursday they don’t think the council should consider reprimanding the county’s chief executive or asking him to resign while the matter goes through court. “I’ve always stood on a firm foundation of due process,” said Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter. “I don’t believe that I am judge and jury when it comes to the judicial process.” Poindexter said she also couldn’t comment on whether she considers the charges to be serious. “Like I said, until I see all the facts, I can’t give an opinion,” she said. In phone interviews or through emailed statements, council members Dennis Onishi, Daniel Paleka, Karen Eoff, Maile David and Dru Kanuha also said the council should let the judicial process play out. Council members Aaron Chung and Greggor Ilagan couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. “He needs to go through the process,” Onishi said. “He could be found not guilty.” Several also commented that they consider Kenoi to be a good mayor or offered words of support for his administration. “Mayor Kenoi has done much good for Hawaii Island and I’ve enjoyed a positive working relationship with him and his administration over CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A the years,” Kanuha said in an email. Eoff said she was torn between offering compassion and her duties as a council member. “This is a challenging time for our county,” she added in an email. “Both the administration and the council need to stay focused on our responsibilities to our community while the legal process takes its course in the hands of those charged with the task.” While Kenoi’s innocence or guilt is up to the courts to determine, Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille said the council can still weigh in over alleged violations of the ethics code. She said she will consider bringing the matter forward at a meeting next month for discussion purposes. “If you ignore something that’s wrong, in my view you become part of the problem,” Wille said. BENSON: Was among the surf world’s rising stars in 2011 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A to perform 200 hours of community service. In a separate case, he entered a similar plea to a charge of failure to return a motor vehicle. In 2014, he was arrested first for not showing up to two HOPE Probation drug tests. The judge issued an arrest warrant for another allegation of violation of probation on July 21, 2014, which resulted in his arrest Sunday. Benson is a professional surfer, having competed in the O’Neill Coldwater Classic, finishing 49th. He was among the surf world’s rising stars in 2011, placing 96th for the year, according to the World Surf League. He placed 224th in 2012 and 696th in 2015. His attorney, deputy public defender Ann Datta, entered a request for a mental health examination for Benson. The state, represented by deputy prosecuting attorney Charles Murray, did not object. The hearing was scheduled for 1 p.m. April 20. Guadalupe- Rodriguez
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