Fund aids victims of Lanai plane crash

Pulama Lana‘i has created a Maui County Remembers memorial fund to provide financial assistance to the families of those who died or were injured in the Feb. 26 plane crash on Lanai.

All funds will go toward assisting crash victims and their families, a Maui County news release said Tuesday.

Killed in the crash were Maui Air pilot Richard Rooney and two Maui Planning Department employees, Kathleen Kern and Tremaine Balberdi. Three Maui County employees were injured: Douglas Miller, a planner with the Planning Department; Mark King, a geographic information systems analyst with the department; and Deputy Corporation Counsel James Giroux.

Donations are being accepted at any Bank of Hawaii branch; checks should be made payable to Maui County Remembers. Online donations may be made through May 31 with any major credit card or PayPal at www.MauiCountyRemembers.org.

Meth, struggle with police led to man’s death

An autopsy shows that the death of a Kailua-Kona man taken into custody in February was caused by cardiorespiratory arrest due to the combined effects of high levels of methamphetamine, an enlarged heart and a physical struggle, Hawaii County police said.

Randall Hatori, 39, died on Feb. 4 after a struggle with officers trying to arrest him.

Dr. Lindsey Harle, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Feb. 5, said it showed minor injuries on Hatori’s body and that while a Taser was used during the confrontation, that did not play a role in his death.

Hatori fled after a traffic stop at a gas station on Palani Road at 12:30 a.m. He was wanted for assault and violating temporary restraining orders, and fled on foot from the car. He was a passenger in the vehicle.

An officer pursued Hatori and a struggle ensued. The officer used a Taser, but Hatori continued to resist arrest, and other officers assisted in restraining Hatori, police said. After Hatori was handcuffed he became unresponsive, police said.

Emergency medical technicians attempted resuscitation, and Hatori was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:53 a.m.

Police said detectives recovered 7.3 grams of methamphetamine at the scene of the struggle.

Some asked to save water in Hanapepe

The Kauai Department of Water has asked residents and business owners on Moi Road and connecting streets in Hanapepe to limit water use to essential needs only to allow the water tank in the area time to refill.

Crews were working to restore the system after a malfunction was discovered Tuesday afternoon.