Dark horses in running

Voters can hear from some of the lesser-known gubernatorial candidates at a forum Tuesday at Windward Community College. The event, at 12:30 p.m. in Hale Akoakoa Room 105, will feature nonpartisan candidates Tony Clapes, Paul Manner and Tom Pollard, and Democrat Miles Shiratori.

Teen accused in beating death of taxi driver can be tried as adult

A Family Court judge on Friday ruled that a teenager accused of being one of two people who beat a taxicab driver to death in Waipahu in May can be tried as an adult.

Kilani Derego, 18, is expected to make an initial appearance in Honolulu District Court on Tuesday. He was 17 when he was arrested.

Michael Robles, 18, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Charlys Tang.

Tang, 41, died May 1 after he was found beaten and bleeding in the parking lot of the Waipahu Times Super Market.

Court documents said that after Robles was arrested May 7, he waived his constitutional rights and voluntarily provided a statement to police stating he and Derego had beaten Tang.

Robles told police he and Derego got into a taxicab in Waikiki and that the juvenile got into an argument with the driver prior to exiting the cab. Police said Tang was beaten after he demanded payment from his passengers.

Robles and Derego had been housemates at a Hale Kipa group home in Manoa.

2 hikers listed in stable condition after being stung by bees in Kailua

Two hikers who sustained multiple bee stings were airlifted by the Honolulu Fire Department helicopter out of an area behind the Luana Hills Golf Course in Kailua yesterday afternoon.

The two men were among a party of four hikers who were attacked by bees about 1:23 p.m. The group was not able to continue and rescue personnel were called to help.

The helicopter took the two men to an area on Auloa Road, Fire Capt. Earle Kealoha said.

They were treated at the scene and taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Department of Emergency Services.

Honolulu Fire Department wins second five-year reaccreditation

The Honolulu Fire Department was recently awarded its second reaccreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

Accreditation is based how an agency delivers services compared with national standards and best practices. HFD is one of 148 agencies worldwide to receive the five-year accreditation from the commission, a nonprofit established to help fire and emergency service agencies achieve organizational and professional excellence.

The award was presented to Fire Chief Kenneth Silva at the organization’s Fire-Rescue International Conference in Chicago on Aug. 25.

The department consists of 1,090 uniformed and 61 nonuniformed personnel.

Alii Heath Center’s fate uncertain

A health clinic started to recruit doctors to the Big Island may be subject to a management change by the state’s health system.

Hawaii Health Systems Corp. board members are considering the fate of Alii Health Center, which has taken nearly $3 million in loans from Kona Community Hospital.

Board member Ken Ono of West Hawaii said the board had requested the clinic be closed within 90 days.

But board Chairman Avery Chumbley said that’s not true. He said the board did ask the West Hawaii Regional Board and Kona Community Hospital to discuss bringing the clinic under the hospital’s auspices within the next 90 days.

Acting HHSC President Alice Hall also said there were no plans to close the clinic.