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Man pleads not guilty to breaking Iolani Palace glass panes

A 57-year-old man pleaded not guilty to breaking historic etched glass panes at Iolani Palace.

Michael L. Aquino appeared at his arraignment at Circuit Court today via closed circuit video link from the Oahu Community Correctional Center.

A deputy public defender pleaded not guilty on Aquino’s behalf to charges of one count of first-degree criminal property damage for breaking glass panes to three doors at the palace and second-degree criminal property damage for breaking a glass door to the House chambers at the state Capitol.

Judge Colette Garibaldi confirmed his bail at $100,000 and set his trial for August.

On the afternoon of May 28, a palace guard observed Aquino allegedly use a metal pipe to break glass panes on the mauka side of the palace. He then broke a glass door at the House chambers before state sheriffs arrested him.

An Oahu grand jury had indicted him today on criminal property charges.

Kippen de Alba Chu, executive director of the Friends of Iolani Palace said they received a report Wednesday that indicated the appraised value of the three original etched panes at a total of $375,000.

De Alba Chu said they expect to receive an estimate on repair costs by the end of the month before they move forward with repair work.

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