HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Man's death now a murder case
Advertiser Staff
Police yesterday opened a homicide investigation into the death of an 18-year-old Kailua man who was beaten July 22 in Nanakuli and never regained consciousness.
Alexander Saballa died at 8 p.m. Monday at The Queen's Medical Center.
Saballa was beaten by several unknown men near BK Superette, 87-1680 Farrington Highway. An autopsy yesterday determined Saballa died of "multi-organ failure due to complications of blunt-trauma injuries of the head due to assault." The medical examiner's office classified the death as a homicide.
Police Detective Larry Tamashiro, acting supervisor of homicide investigations, said the case initially was investigated as a first-degree assault.
MAUI
DRIVER ARRESTED IN FATAL ACCIDENT
A motorist was arrested for investigation of drunken driving after an accident yesterday that killed a pedestrian on Lahainaluna Road.
Maui police said Michael Arcangel, 26, of Kihei, was crossing the street about 1:10 a.m. to get to a relative's home just above the old mill when he was hit by a 2006 Chrysler sedan driven by a 26-year-old Lahaina man. Police arrested the man on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, but he was released while the investigation continues.
There have been 16 traffic fatalities on Maui this year, compared with 15 a year ago.
BIG ISLAND
HILO WOMAN DIES AFTER 1-CAR CRASH
A 73-year-old woman died Monday in Honolulu from injuries sustained in a one-car crash Sept. 29 in South Kohala.
Police identified the woman as Helen Nakaza of Hilo. She was a passenger in a 2005 Ford van that was traveling east on Mamalahoa Highway about 11:10 p.m. when a large tree branch fell on the vehicle just west of Kalake Street, police said. Nakaza was taken to North Hawai'i Community Hospital, then flown to The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, where she died.
It was the 29th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year.
POLICE SEEK HELP FINDING TWO BOYS
Big Island police asked for the public's help in finding two children who were not returned home to their legal parents after visiting their birth father.
The two boys, Micah Cabanting, 10, and Lebrado Cabanting, 12, were dropped off with their father Saturday morning, police said. The man, Lebrado Cabanting Jr., 36, failed to return the boys at a pre-arranged time later that evening. Police said the elder Cabanting is being sought for custodial interference. He may be driving a maroon Toyota van with the license plate HJJ 330.
Anyone with information should call Officer B.J. Duarte at (808) 961-2373, the police department's nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.
HALAWA
KIDNAPPING SUSPECT HELD
Windward O'ahu crime reduction unit officers arrested a 30-year-old Kane'ohe man outside the H-3 Freeway's Harano Tunnel yesterday for questioning in connection with a kidnapping investigation.
The man was arrested at 11:45 a.m. and booked for first-degree kidnapping, abuse of a family member and two drug-related offenses. The kidnapping investigation stems from a Sept. 17 complaint filed by the man's ex-girlfriend, police said.
'EWA
RESIDENTS ALERTED TO AIRCRAFT NOISE
'Ewa Plains residents may hear an increase in aircraft traffic during the next two weeks while the state Department of Transportation does maintenance at Honolulu International Airport.
The installation of an airfield sign will require closing one runway from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. this week through Friday and again Oct. 15-20.
'AIEA
HIGH SCHOOL HI 5¢ DRIVE ON SATURDAY
'Aiea High School's Project Grad 2007 will hold a HI 5¢ recycling drive Saturday. People may drop off donations of aluminum cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles at the school's parking lot from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SALT LAKE
BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS RAIL ROUTE
Salt Lake residents are encouraged to attend a neighborhood board meeting tomorrow night to discuss possible routes for a rail transit system.
The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Aliamanu Intermediate School cafeteria. Residents will be asked for their views on the proposed transit line.
The meeting will also feature a candidate forum.
STATE
DLNR SETS UP 24-HOUR HOT LINE
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has set up a 24-hour enforcement call system, including a statewide toll-free hot line the public can use to report violations of natural and cultural resource laws.
The enforcement phone number is 643-DLNR (3567) and will connect the caller to the appropriate district office on weekdays between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and to an O'ahu-based answering service after hours.
Callers will be prompted to provide as much detailed information as possible.
The new system is intended to allow DLNR to obtain more accurate and timely information to identify where illegal activity may be taking place.
HONOLULU
OUTAGE DISRUPTS STATE BUSINESS
The building housing the state departments of health and public safety lost power yesterday, disrupting business there until the building's transformer can be replaced.
Employees who work at the building at 919 Ala Moana Blvd. will not have access to mail, e-mail or voicemail messages and meetings scheduled for today will not be held, officials said.
Employees still have telephone service. People with appointments should try to reschedule them.
