Newswatch

Duo pleads not guilty in road-rage case

A Kapolei man and woman charged with attacking two people during a road-rage incident earlier this month entered pleas of not guilty at their Circuit Court arraignment Monday morning.

Kenneth Kalaukoa, 53, has been charged with second-degree assault and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle. His bail was set at $15,000.

Geraldine Mahi-Kalaukoa, 56, has been charged with unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle. Her bail was set at $11,000.

Their trial is set for the week of May 28.

Police said the incident occurred just after midnight March 10 near Kapo­lei Shopping Center when Kalau­koa left his vehicle and opened the door of a car in which a 20-year-old man was a passenger. Kalau­koa allegedly punched the younger man in the face.

At the same time, Mahi-Kalau­koa tried to hit a 42-year-old woman in the car but missed, police said. Mahi-Kalau­koa then tried to pull the woman from the car, police said.

Police officer and firefighter are honored

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii recognized police officer Ryan Domingo as Officer of the Year and Ian Smith as Firefighter of the Year last week.

Domingo was honored for administering lifesaving first aid to a 55-year-old woman who had been shot May 13 in Hilo.

Domingo was recognized in September by the Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officials Association as the Hawaii County Police Department’s Officer of the Year. He joined the Police Department in 2003 and is a patrol officer in the South Hilo District.

Smith, who joined the Fire Department in 2004, is a fire equipment operator assigned to the Kawai­lani Fire Station in Hilo.

Smith is a member of various department committees, including one that received funding to update the Fire Department’s EKG monitors.

His certifications include CPR Instructor in the Fire Department through the American Heart Association. He continues to provide instruction to his peers and regularly offers mentoring and support to fellow firefighters, officials said.