Men will not be tried for blocking pathway
The Kauai County prosecutor’s office will not pursue charges against two men who allegedly refused to leave a shoreline path construction site in Wailua where an altar had been.
James Alalem and Ray Catania are scheduled to appear in Kauai Circuit Court on Wednesday to be arraigned for obstruction, a misdemeanor.
Police arrested the two men Feb. 6 for obstructing the Kauai County project after they stood in front of an ahu (altar) and allegedly refused to move from the site where a concrete path is being built.
Alalem, 56 of Wailua, had said they were defending their religious practices.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said he does not like putting people on trial "for defending their strongly held political, religious and cultural values, when expressed in a nonviolent and peaceful manner."
Contractors removed the ahu earlier this week to continue excavation work for the pathway.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Meeting set on results of odors study
A community meeting will be held Wednesday to discuss two environmental studies conducted after Waimea residents on Kauai raised concerns about people getting sick from odors.
The 5 p.m. meeting will be at Waimea Canyon Middle School.
In a news release, George Costa, director of the Office of Economic Development, said the results from several years of research on air samples collected in Waimea will be presented at the meeting.
In the initial investigation, Costa indicated that possible causes for the illnesses were the use of pesticides and a plant called stinkweed (Cleome Gynandra).
Stadium rehab and expansion is completed
Hawaii County has finished renovating and expanding Edith Kanakaole stadium.
Officials held a blessing ceremony Friday for the facility, home to the Merrie Monarch Festival.
The stadium has a new 4,200-square-foot building with dressing/meeting rooms and tiled restrooms.
