Teacher answers sex assault charges
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa » An American Samoa elementary school teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old student is back in the territory to face charges.
Two American Samoa police officers brought Tone Pulou back to Pago Pago last week from Hawaii. He made an initial court appearance Friday, where he was ordered held without bail.
The 26-year-old Pulou had been wanted in American Samoa since August 2010 on charges of rape, first-degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He allegedly fled the territory to Australia and was arrested on Oahu earlier this month.
According to court documents, the girl told police she had sex with Pulou starting around September 2009. She became pregnant.
While in custody in Honolulu, Pulou said the relationship was consensual.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hawaiian group sues to halt Halloween fest
A lawsuit claims a Halloween celebration on Maui violates Native Hawaiian rights.
A Native Hawaiian group filed the suit Friday in Circuit Court.
The Maui News reports the suit seeks a restraining order and contends Mayor Alan Arakawa improperly circumvented the county Cultural Resources Commission to move the event forward.
The commission had denied event permits for the past four years. This year the county removed any elements of the event that would be under the commission’s purview.
According to the complaint, the annual Lahaina Halloween party known as the "Mardi Gras of the Pacific" has in the past involved nudity, drinking and other offensive behavior. The complaint says participants urinated on a sacred Hawaiian site.
County spokesman Rod Antone said the complaint is under review.
Kauai seeks lifeguards for on-call work
The Kauai County Ocean Safety Bureau is accepting applications for on-call lifeguards.
On-call lifeguards perform ocean safety duties as needed and must be available to work weekends and holidays. The job pays $12 per hour.
Applications will be taken until Nov. 2 at www.kauai.gov. A physical agility test will be given Nov. 16. Eligible candidates will be notified about a week before the physical test.
For more information, call the county Department of Personnel Services at 241-4956.
