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
Maui Police Department Chief Tivoli Faaumu delivers an emotional farewell speech as wife Deborah Faaumu looks on Friday morning at the Wailuku Police Station. Faaumu retires today after nearly 36 years on the job. â The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
WAILUKU Whether it was handing out bottles of water while talking to Black Lives Matter protesters, walking in high heels to support survivors of domestic violence or tackling a fleeing fugitive, Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu left his mark.
“As the chief, I can’t just hide behind doors,” Faaumu said. “I have to go out. I have a civic duty.
The Maui News
Police reported issuing citations for face mask violations last week after finding 60 to 80 people gathered around about 20 drummers who had face masks under their chins at a Paia beach park.
Officers and county park security officers went to the beach park off Hana Highway on Jan. 15 after numerous complaints about large drum circle gatherings occurring at the beach on Friday afternoons, police said.
Complaints to mpdquarantine@mpd.net reported that drum circle participants and observers weren’t wearing face masks or following social distancing guidelines, and the large group exceeded the allowable amount for outdoor social gatherings under public health emergency rules.