Governor wants state redistricting redone

HILO » Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie says the process of redrawing the state’s political boundaries was flawed and should be redone.

The West Hawaii Today newspaper said Abercrombie requested in a brief Monday that the Hawaii Supreme Court compel the 2011 Reapportionment Commission to "do everything necessary" to correct the plan it filed with the chief elections officer.

The brief was filed by Deputy Attorney General Charleen Aina in response to a lawsuit asking the high court to declare the plan invalid. The commission has defended its method.

Democratic Party groups from Hawaii island are suing. They say the reapportionment plan is based on a population count that includes too many nonpermanent residents such as members of the military and students. They argue it favors Oahu and denies Hawaii island a fourth seat in the state Senate.

2-time murderer’s conviction upheld

A state appeals court affirmed Tuesday the conviction of Darnell Griffin, who was found guilty of the 1999 murder of a 20-year-old woman.

The three-judge panel of the Intermediate Court of Appeals unanimously rejected Griffin’s arguments, including the contention that the evidence didn’t support the conviction.

Griffin was acquitted of sexually assaulting Evelyn Luka, but convicted of murdering her. He was sentenced to a life term without parole.

Luka was found barely alive near the H-2 Ka Uka Boulevard on-ramp in September 1999. She had been strangled and died the next month.

Griffin was convicted in 1982 of murdering Lynn Gheradi in 1980. He was paroled in that case in March 1996.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Woman wanted for questioning in ATM fire

Hawaii County police are seeking a woman in connection with a fire set in a trash receptacle of an automatic teller machine in Hilo.

The fire Sept. 8 caused minor damage to the ATM in Puainako Town Center. Police classified the case as arson.

Security video showed the woman at the machine shortly before the fire began.

Police ask that anyone who knows her identity call detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2388, or the police at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

California man rescued after falling on trail

Firefighters rescued a 62-year-old man from California who broke his ankle on the Hanakapiai trail Monday afternoon, according to a Kauai County news release.

The visitor fell and fractured his ankle while hiking near the half-mile mark on the trail to Hanakapiai Beach, the news release said.

A fire rescue helicopter flew the man to Princeville Airport. He was transported to a hospital.