Japanese snorkeler drowned, autopsy says
A 73-year-old Japanese tourist drowned Monday afternoon while snorkeling off Heeia Kea Pier.
The Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy Tuesday and determined Kazuo Takino of Osaka, Japan, died of accidental drowning.
The incident occurred just before 2 p.m.
When paramedics arrived at the scene, efforts were already underway to try to revive Takino using CPR. Paramedics took Takino in critical condition to the hospital, where he died.
Efforts yield 1 of 12 stolen bonsai trees
One of the miniature plants stolen from a nursery in Waimanalo has been found.
Dragon Garden Bonsai official Bobby Liew said police called the nursery at 2 p.m. Tuesday to say that a bonsai plant was found in Waianae.
Liew said the details were sketchy as to where the bonsai plant was found.
He said police sent an email containing a photograph of the bonsai plant, and his father was able to identify it as one of the stolen plants. He said the family has to go to Waianae to pick up the plant.
A dozen miniature trees estimated to be worth $100,000 were stolen from the family farm, including one estimated to be worth $25,000.
The plant identified Tuesday was not the $25,000 plant.
The family said the bonsai trees were taken from a fenced display area of the farm — six of them between the evening of July 23 and early morning of July 24, and the other six on the morning of July 28.
Ex-Rainbowtique worker charged in theft
A former Rainbowtique salesclerk is facing charges that he stole more than $12,000 from the Ward Centre store.
An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Brandon D. Adams with theft and computer fraud.
Adams, 27, who lists a Hahaione Valley address, posted $11,000 bail Monday. His arraignment in state Circuit Court is scheduled for next week.
According to the indictment, Adams stole the money from Oct. 24 to March 22.
Prosecutor Kurt Nakamatsu said Adams accepted cash from customers for purchases but, instead of completing the transactions, suspended them on the store’s computer system. He said store video shows Adams stealing more than $1,600 worth of cash receipts but that store records show there was more than $12,000 in suspended transactions and missing receipts.
Rainbowtique sells official University of Hawaii logo merchandise. In addition to the one at Ward Centre, there are three other Rainbowtique stores: two on the Manoa campus and one in Waikiki. UH owns the stores, and all of the proceeds support the school’s educational mission.
