State Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, who earlier pleaded no contest to a drunken-driving charge, yesterday resigned as vice speaker of the House of Representatives. He will continue to serve as a state lawmaker.

Admitting a "serious error in judgment," Karamatsu said he chose to resign his leadership position to avoid serving as a "source of distraction."

Karamatsu, D-41st (Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele), last week was fined $750 and ordered to perform 72 hours of community service. He was charged with being severely intoxicated after he was involved in a single-car accident at 1:15 a.m. Oct. 16 on the Moanalua Freeway.

No replacement for Karama-tsu's leadership position has been decided, House Speaker Calvin Say said yesterday.

PERMIT SALES FOR FIREWORKS LAGGING

The sale of fireworks permits on O'ahu this year is lagging behind permit sales for the past several years, according to information provided by the Ho-nolulu Fire Department.

As of Thursday, 6,603 fireworks permits had been issued on O'ahu. That compares with 8,367 on that date last year and 8,532 in 2005.

Permits cost $25 and allow purchase of up to 5,000 firecrackers. People may buy multiple permits.

Permits are not needed to buy novelty items such as sparklers, flaming fountains, smoke bombs and the like. People may set off fireworks from 9 p.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday.

LAGOON DRIVE WILL BE RESTRICTED

The state Department of Transportation advises that O'ahu motorists who access Lagoon Drive will be restricted south of Aolele Street to area business tenants, their employees, customers and guests on official business from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

An airport security checkpoint will be in operation near Aolele Street to ensure that only authorized people and materials are allowed access to Lagoon Drive. The use of illegal aerial fireworks in this area is strictly prohibited.

Anyone seeing suspicious people or unsafe activities is encouraged to contact the airport duty manager at 836-6434.

MAN WHO ROBBED MARKET SOUGHT

Police yesterday continued to look for a man who robbed a popular Kailua market on Wednesday after walking up to the sales clerk with an assault rifle.

At about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, a man entered Kalapawai Market at 306 S. Kalaheo Ave., brandished a rifle and demanded money.

After receiving an undisclosed amount from the clerk, the man ran away toward Kailua Beach Park, police said.

A surveillance video from the market shows a man carrying what appears to be a Colt AR-15 assault rifle, the civilian version of the military's M-16 rifle.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cell phone. Free cellular calls are provided by AT&T, Nextel Hawaii, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless Hawaii.

BIG ISLAND GIRL, 15, REPORTED MISSING

Big Island police are searching for a 15-year-old girl reported missing from her Honoka'a home since Dec. 18.

Tatiana Cortes-Cortes is described as 5 feet 1 and about 125 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to call the police department's non-emergency phone number at 808-935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 808-961-8300 in Hilo or 808-329-8181 in Kona. All CrimeStoppers information is kept confidential.

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