Man who punched bus driver apologizes, will get counseling

WAILUKU >>  A Kahului man who punched a Maui bus driver has been ordered to attend anger management classes and write an apology.

The Maui News says 22-year-old Haloti Mahe must write a letter of apology to Punahele Hoopii, a Roberts Hawaii employee who reported being punched in early May.

Deputy Public Defender Danielle Sears says Mahe has already written the letter of apology.

Hoopii was the driver on a Maui Bus commuter service run from West Maui to Central Maui when she mistakenly thought Mahe was a passenger who had urinated in the bus several months earlier. When she told Mahe to get off the bus, he punched her in the face.

Mahe told the court he is sorry and overreacted to the situation.