Ex-cargo workers allegedly stole U.S. mail parcels

A federal prosecutor says four former air carrier employees stole U.S. mail parcels destined for American Samoa when they worked for Pacific Air Cargo.

The U.S. attorney filed a criminal information in federal court Wednesday charging Stanford Salavea, Maunaloa Aitaoto, Jonathan Taboniar and Louis Felesi with conspiracy to commit theft from mail between November and Feb. 24.

The charging document said the four defendants, working in concert, stole individual parcels on a regular basis during that period.

The four, who were employed as ramp workers for Pacific Air Cargo, are scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court next month.

Pay cuts for state leaders extended for two years

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has enacted a law extending 5 percent pay cuts for himself, legislators, judges and department heads.

Abercrombie signed the bill Thursday that continues the pay cuts for two more years. The Legislature passed the measure this month.

If lawmakers hadn’t acted, they would have received huge raises when their previous two-year pay reduction was scheduled to expire at the end of June.

Legislative leaders have said they needed to share in the pain of government reductions and a sour economy. Lawmakers are paid about $46,000 a year.

Flags dip for Kato

The U.S. and state of Hawaii flags will be flown at half-staff on government buildings today in memory of Hiroshi Kato, a former state legislator and judge who died April 14 at age 89, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced. Flags will also fly at half-staff on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Deal opens Pohakuloa to hunters

Limited hunting activities are being allowed in the Pohakuloa Training Area this weekend under an agreement between the Army and state Forestry Division.

Archery hunting for mammals is allowed in training areas 17, 19, 20 and the northern section of training area 22 through Monday. After that those training areas will no longer be available for hunting because of federal environmental mandates, the Army said.

As training activities permit, the Army is also considering opening up hunting in the northwest Keamuku area at the end of June.

Call the training area hunter’s hot line at 969-3474 for details.