Retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha pleaded not guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to charges contained in the latest indictment against them.
This is the third time the Kealohas have entered not-guilty pleas since they were first indicted last October because that first indictment was twice superseded by updated indictments.
The latest indictment includes bank fraud and related identity theft and obstruction charges. The Kealohas are scheduled to stand trial on those charges in November. They are scheduled to stand trial with four former members of the Honolulu Police Department’s elite Criminal Intelligence Unit next March on charges accusing them of framing Katherine Kealoha’s uncle for stealing the Kealohas’ mailbox and of lying to cover up their actions.
Kalanianaole Highway resurfacing to begin
Resurfacing of Kalanianaole Highway from West Hind Drive to the freeway will begin Sunday, closing lanes nightly — first in the eastbound direction then westbound through June 8.
The state Department of Transportation said construction will occur from West Hind Drive to the H-1 freeway with roadwork scheduled from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Two lanes will be closed on Kalanianaole in the eastbound direction between Ainakoa Avenue and West Hind on Sunday night through Wednesday morning. Then two lanes will be closed in the westbound direction between West Hind and Ainakoa on Wednesday night through Friday morning.
Traffic will be contraflowed to lanes in the opposite direction of the closures.
DOT said in a press release that the Kalanianaole Highway Resurfacing Project will repave and fix weakened pavement areas, replace loop detectors, upgrade traffic-counting stations, adjust utility manhole frames and covers, install backplates with retro-reflective borders on overhead traffic signals, and install milepost markers, pavement markings, striping and signs.
Roadwork will also be scheduled from West Hind Drive to Lunalilo Home Road to replace lane striping, DOT said.
Expected completion of the Kalanianaole roadwork is early 2019.
For weekly roadwork schedule updates, go to hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork.
Kahala By The Sea sales start today
Owner-occupant sales begin today for Kahala By The Sea, a collection of six two-story residences on a beachfront estate along Kahala Avenue.
The three- and four-bedroom homes range in size from 3,442 to 3,647 square feet and include a 1,000-square-foot lanai and a private yard that averages 2,000 square feet. Home prices start from $8,999,000.
The developer is 4607 Kahala LLC, which is managed by A&B Properties Hawaii.
Hawaii island
Fundraising campaign launched for worker who lost his leg
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for a Big Island man and state Department of Transportation employee who lost a leg when an excavator struck and ran him over as he was working on Highway 130.
The incident was one of four work-related accidents that occurred within a 20-day period this month, prompting the state Occupational Safety and Health Division to investigate the accidents, as reported in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Wednesday.
The accident occurred May 21 while the employee was trimming vegetation to maintain the safety of Highway 130, state DOT spokesman Tim Sakahara confirmed.
According to the GoFundMe campaign, “Support the Egusa Ohana” — which was launched by Shanel Tiffany of Hilo, who describes herself as a sister-in-law — Davin Egusa was part of a crew helping to clear the highway to assist Leilani Estates amid heavy lava flow when he was hit by the excavator.
Egusa was immediately rushed to Hilo Medical Center, where his left leg was amputated, according to his sister-in-law. He was transferred in critical condition to the Queen’s Medical Center the following day.
The campaign seeks to raise $15,000 to help Egusa’s partner of 20 years, Janelle Rosario, and their three daughters, ages 14, 18 and 20. Rosario is staying with Egusa through his treatment and recovery. To date, a little over $11,000 has been raised.
