Costco donates Christmas trees to hundreds of Oahu families
More than 300 Oahu families have received free Christmas trees, thanks to a partnership between nonprofit groups and a big-box retailer.
Costco had a container of unsold trees and decided to reach out to the community to hand them out for this season, said Catharine Lo, spokeswoman for Blue Planet Foundation.
"They asked us if we could help identify some families that would appreciate the trees, so we contacted some different organizations," Lo said. "The Lokahi Giving Project agreed to facilitate distribution of the trees."
Costco had about 350 6- to 7-foot-tall noble firs to give away. Lokahi reached out to other organizations, including HUGS and Helping Hands Hawaii, to help distribute the trees.
Most of the trees, distributed at Lokahi’s Kakaako headquarters, were gone by Monday, Lo said. The groups began distributing the trees from Dec. 17, and will do so through Thursday while supplies last.
People can pick up a trees at 760 Halekauwila St.
Blue Planet Foundation also donated 60 boxes of LED Christmas lights and recycled incandescent bulb ornaments made by students involved with Blue Planet.
2 men found guilty for targeting struggling homeowners in scam
A jury has convicted two Honolulu men on charges stemming from a mortgage fraud and money-laundering operation.
The U.S. attorney’s office said a jury delivered the verdict Friday against 48-year-old Welton Kalani and 51-year-old Stephen Balino.
The office said in a statement Tuesday that the two were accused of promising underwater homeowners that if they transferred their title to others temporarily, the "buyers" would make mortgage payments until the homeowner could buy the property back.
Eight other people pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the operation.
Kalani was convicted on 12 counts, and Balino was found guilty on seven counts, including conspiracy, money laundering and mail and wire fraud.
The men are scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court on April 26.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Puna man, 87, gets 5 years on drug charge
An 87-year-old man whom prosecutors believe to be the oldest Hawaii island resident convicted of a dangerous-drug charge has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Rodrigo Borreta of Puna was sentenced last week for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that police found 3.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine packed for sale while searching his home last year. Police also found drug paraphernalia.
At the time, Borreta was on parole for a 1999 conviction of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. He has been convicted of drug-related felonies five times since 1988.
Borreta turns 88 next month. Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi announced his sentence on Monday.
Coffee cherries stolen off trees in Pahala area
Hawaii County police are investigating the theft of 2,000 to 4,000 pounds of coffee cherries in Kau.
Police said one or more people entered a property off an old cane haul road above Pahala between 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 11 and stripped the trees of the cherries.
The stolen coffee cherries are valued at between $3,300 and $6,600.
Police ask that anyone with information call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Anonymous tipsters may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 or 329-8181.
