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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 14, 2007

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Student missing on North Shore

Advertiser Staff

Masumi Watanabe

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Police and firefighters yesterday were looking for a 21-year-old Japanese exchange student who has disappeared on the North Shore.

Masumi Watanabe was last seen about 9:20 a.m. Thursday walking on Pupukea Road near Alapi'o Road. She speaks very little English, police said.

Watanabe was last seen wearing a navy blue hooded long-sleeve sweater, brown shirt, blue denim pants and pink shoes. She wears glasses with silver rims, police said.

Police ask anyone with information about this person to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on your cell phone. Free cellular calls are provided by Cingular, Nextel Hawaii, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless Hawaii.



SUSPECT INDICTED IN 2005 ATTACK

HILO, Hawai'i — A Big Island grand jury has indicted a Kailua, Kona man for attempted second-degree murder for allegedly hitting his then-girlfriend with his car near Hilo in 2005.

Kirby S. Imai, 43, also was indicted Thursday for alleged abuse of a family or household member in the case involving a 33-year-old woman.

According to Family Court records, Imai allegedly attacked the woman near the Pana'ewa Equestrian Center on June 7, 2005, striking her with his vehicle and running over her bicycle. He attempted to force the woman into his car, but she refused, according to a police report in the case.

Imai told police at the time he worked as a cook at the Hawai'i Community Correctional Center's Hale Nani facility. A prison spokeswoman said Imai's last day in that job was June 23, 2006.



NEW OHA TRUSTEE SET TO TAKE OATH

Robert K. Lindsey Jr. will be sworn in by Hawai'i Chief Justice Ronald Moon as a trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at 10 a.m. Monday in the OHA boardroom.

Lindsey, a former land manager for Kamehameha Schools, was selected unanimously by the eight other trustees last week. He will serve the remainder of the term of the Hawai'i Island seat left vacant by the death of Linda Dela Cruz, who died March 15. The term expires November 2008.



MOLESTATION SUSPECT CHARGED

A 36-year-old Waimanalo man was charged Thursday with molesting two juveniles.

David E. Pili Jr. is charged with two counts of third-degree sexual assault and was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Pili's criminal record includes five convictions.

Prosecutors also charged a man for allegedly raping a woman in Kalaeloa early Thursday.

Vincent B. Villaplaza of 'Ewa, who has eight criminal convictions, is accused of first-degree sexual assault and kidnapping. His bail totals $50,000.



JUVENILE ARRESTED IN PARK STABBING

A juvenile male was arrested yesterday in connection with the stabbing of a man near Thomas Square Thursday night, police said.

Police are still looking for another suspect in the case, police said.

The man who was stabbed in the back remained at The Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.

Police said the victim and another man were walking in the park about 9 p.m. when they were attacked by four people who then fled across South King Street toward McKinley High School.

The stabbing victim was treated by Emergency Medical Services personnel and firefighters from the Makiki station before being taken to the hospital. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The other man suffered a cut to his arm. He told police he and the stabbing victim were attacked by the group of people while walking on the diamondhead/mauka side of the park near the restroom, police said.



HELP BASH OUT HUNGER AT EVENT

The Miller Lite Bash Out Hunger, a fundraising event for Hawaii Foodbank, will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. today at Aloha Tower Marketplace.

It will feature comedian Andy Bumatai, retro-rock cover band The King Pins and blues band Eight O Eight. Cost is $25.

All proceeds will support the Hawaii Foodbank and its efforts to feed more than 130,000 people in Hawai'i every year.

To purchase tickets, call 550-8457 or visit www.honoluluboxoffice.com.



ALOHA SOCIETY TO TRAIN VOLUNTEERS

The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, a volunteer organization that helps tourists in times of emergency, will hold a free volunteer training session April 28. It will be from 9 a.m. to noon in the board room of the Hawai'i Convention Center.

People who speak Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, German or Spanish are needed to help international visitors.

VASH members help visitors who have been the victims of crime or encountered other adversities. Reservations for the training session are recommended. Call VASH president Jessica Lani Rich at 926-8274.