High surf to hit state’s north-facing shores
The National Weather Service has issued a high-surf advisory for the north-facing shores of Kauai, Niihau, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island through 6 a.m. Saturday.
A long-period north swell was expected to build Thursday night and this morning, forecasters say, and surf heights are expected to reach 12 to 16 feet.
Forecasters say the surf will produce large breaking waves, causing hazardous conditions in surf zones and life-threatening rip currents.
Beachgoers are urged to stay out of the water and away from the shore break.
Monk seal almost ready to return to wild
State and federal officials plan to announce the release of the Hawaiian monk seal R5AY back to the wild after she’s recovered from a fishhook injury.
The seal known as "Honey Girl" had surgery to repair her tongue at the Honolulu Zoo last week. She’s since been recovering at the Waikiki Aquarium.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says the seal will be released today if all goes well.
Honey Girl was close to death when she was rescued Nov. 17. An ulua hook had been lodged in her cheek for at least three weeks.
State and federal officials have responded to 14 Hawaiian monk seal hooking incidents so far this year. Three hookings have ended in death.
Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Man faces theft, assault charges
A 20-year-old Kailua-Kona man has been charged in the alleged beating and robbery of a Kealakekua man in a parking lot Monday evening.
Alexander Cho was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and third-degree theft Wednesday night. He was being held in the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $77,000 bail.
The 26-year-old victim reported that he met a local man at a bar and was taken to a corner of the parking lot at Alii Sunset Plaza to meet five or six males. The group punched and kicked the victim and stole his backpack before running away, police said. The victim was treated at Kona Community Hospital for a broken jaw and minor cuts and scrapes.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Fraud, forgery net 5-year term
A Kauai circuit judge sentenced a Lihue woman Wednesday to five years in prison for three cases involving 18 charges ranging from identity and credit card theft, fraud and forgery involving credit cards.
The Garden Island reported that Staci Lynn Gonsalves, 41, has five prior felonies.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe said Gonsalves’ lengthy criminal record offered the court no option but to sentence her to a felony prison term. The three five-year terms will run concurrently.
Public Defender Christian Enright said Gonsalves has an addiction and that a sibling’s death prompted a relapse. Without a source of income, she targeted others through credit card theft, he said.
