lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU – A man with a criminal history of more than 100 arrests and 49 convictions was sentenced last week to a 10-year prison term.
As a repeat offender, Dawson Kajihiro, 32, of Napili was ordered to serve at least three years and four months of the term before being eligible for parole.
Speaking in court, Kajihiro said he accepted the consequences.
“I realize I not the one suffering while being incarcerated. My kids, my family suffer,” he said. “I’d like to apologize to my kids, my family for not being there for them.”
In five criminal cases, Kajihiro had pleaded no contest to third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, first-degree bail jumping, a reduced charge of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree criminal property damage, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, habitual property crime and third-degree theft.
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
Cris Gutierrez works on his driftwood creations, including a hula girl, at a farmers market last week at Poâokela Church in Makawao. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photos
KAHULUI – When the pandemic shut down Cris Gutierrez’s teppanyaki catering business, he spent more time at the beach in prayer – and in driftwood.
“I prayed hard,” Gutierrez said. “I go hang out at the beach, enjoying the driftwood, asking nature if there’s anything I can do.”
He gathered driftwood to make planters.
Then he decided to take on a more ambitious project.
About two months ago, he created a driftwood humpback whale along the shoreline outside Kahului Harbor. He spent two days sculpting the 15-foot whale, using 300 to 400 pieces of driftwood he collected from the surrounding shoreline.
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU A felony threatening charge was dismissed, while an attempted assault charge was upheld against a man who was arrested after police responded to a report that he brandished a knife at a Wailuku restaurant.
James Keliikupakako, 19, of Makawao was seen hitting the ground with a crowbar in the parking lot of Kings BBQ & Chinese Restaurant at 197 N. Market St. the evening of May 1, according to testimony at his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Wailuku District Court.
Employee Dunhao Zhang, testifying through a Mandarin interpreter, said Keliikupakako approached and was about 4 feet away when he said, “I just came out from jail.”
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
A stolen pickup truck is prepared to be towed from the scene of a fatal crash Thursday morning on Waiehu Beach Road. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photo
A woman who was a passenger in a speeding stolen pickup truck was killed when the driver lost control and hit a guardrail early Thursday on Waiehu Beach Road, police said.
She was identified as Jamescy Akahi, 37, of Wailuku.
The driver, identified as Holden Bingham, 30, who has no local address, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, driving without a license, reckless driving and excessive speeding of 81 mph or more, police said.
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
Murder suspect Bernard Brown appears Thursday in 2nd Circuit Court for a hearing on his request to dismiss his case. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the disappearance seven years ago of his former girlfriend Moreira âMoâ Monsalve. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photo
WAILUKU Murder suspect Bernard Brown is again asking to have his case dismissed, alleging insufficient evidence, conflicts of interest and excessive use of hearsay in a grand jury proceeding that led to his reindictment last year.
The prosecution is opposing the request, saying evidence was properly presented to the grand jury in a fair proceeding that resulted in Brown’s indictment for second-degree murder of his former girlfriend Moreira “Mo” Monsalve.