Kauai man pleads not guilty to 224 charges

A Hanamaulu man pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Kauai Circuit Court to charges he stole the personal information of more than 100 people to make unauthorized purchases.

Pohaku Matsuura, 35, was charged with 224 offenses, including one count of first-degree burglary, three counts of second -degree identity theft, two counts of second-degree burglary, eight counts of credit card theft and forgery and 179 counts of unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.

Between July 29 and Sept. 13, 2011, Matsuura is alleged to have stolen information, such as credit cards and checks, from hotels, businesses and vehicles of more than 100 individuals. Matsuura then used the information to make unauthorized purchases, police said.

Matsuura was arrested Sept. 13 in a burglary at the Kauai Palms Hotel.

His bail was set at $250,000. He remains in custody awaiting a March 5 jury trial before Judge Kathleen Watanabe.

Marine indicted in beating in Waikiki

A Kaneohe Bay Marine accused of beating a 48-year-old man into a coma is in custody at Oahu Community Correctional Center unable to post $200,000 bail.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday charging Lance Cpl. Brandon L. Calhoun, 22, with attempted murder.

The victim remains in a coma in a hospital, said Vickie Kapp, deputy city prosecutor.

Kapp said Calhoun and the victim were arguing in Waikiki on Feb. 8 when Calhoun punched the victim at least seven times, fracturing his skull and cutting his face. Kapp said Calhoun also hit the victim with a chair.

Police arrested the Marine at 2155 Lauula St. in Waikiki.

Kapp said Calhoun gave police a statement denying that he hit the man with a chair. However, witnesses said he did, Kapp said.

Man charged with assault in stabbing

Hawaii County police charged a 35-year-old Ocean View man Wednesday in connection with a stabbing Monday night at a convenience store at the Ocean View Town Center.

Biti Biti Jr. was charged with second-degree assault, driving under the influence and driving without a license. His bail was set at $6,500.

Biti remains at the Kona police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for today.

The victim, 44, also from Ocean View, was released Wednesday from Kona Community Hospital after treatment.

He had been shopping with his wife at a convenience store when a man he knew confronted him and challenged him to a fight, police said. The acquaintance allegedly lunged at the victim and stabbed him on the left side of his body near the ribs. As the victim turned to flee, he was stabbed in the back of his neck.

Hiker rescued after tumble at Twin Falls

Firefighters rescued a 19-year-old man Tuesday after he fell about 40 feet from a waterfall while hiking with friends in the Twin Falls area, a Maui County spokesman said.

The man had cuts on his head, back and legs, but the injuries were not life-threatening, spokesman Lee Mainaga said.

He was carried from the stream area about 4:30 p.m., and taken him to a hospital.

Firefighters caution that streams in East Maui have very low water levels this year, making jumping from the falls extremely hazardous.