Last fiscal year’s fines and penalties topped $6.5M, state says

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Hawaii says it collected more than $6.5 million in fines and penalties last fiscal year.

U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni says the collections included nearly $5.7 million from criminal cases and more than $800,000 from civil cases.

In one of those cases, prosecutors recovered nearly $2.8 million in restitution for an investment fraud scheme.

While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to a crime victims’ fund.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Justice Department collected $24.7 billion in civil and criminal actions during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Lava breakouts active in 2 spots 

Active breakouts from Kilauea Volcano are focused in two areas on the so-called June 27 lava flow, according to a cloud-free satellite image obtained Saturday by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

In the upper part of the flow field, a breakout was active about 2.5 miles northeast of Puu Oo, the observatory said.

The second area of breakouts was active around a system of ground cracks. The front of these breakouts had advanced roughly 0.2 miles north over the previous day, following the western margin of the existing June 27 flow.

The front of these breakouts was roughly 3.6 miles upslope from Apaa Street as the crow flies.

An overflight is scheduled for Monday.

The evacuation advisory for residents downslope from the flow remains in effect.

Pahoa Village Road between Apaa Street and Post Office Road will remain limited to area residents. Access to the businesses and commercial areas of Pahoa can be made through Pahoa Village Road at the intersection of Highways 130 and 132 and Post Office Road.

2 charged over illegal weapon

Hawaii island police charged two men who allegedly tried to sell an illegal weapon.

Undercover officers responding to an advertisement for a firearm, identified by the sellers as a sawed-off shotgun, arrested Ryne Wamil, 23, of Kawaihae and Austin Silva, 21, of Waimea.

Wamil was charged with possession of a modified weapon and two other weapons charges. His bail was set at $14,500.

Silva, who was found with a glass smoking pipe, was charged with promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $4,000.

Fundraiser to benefit Peewee champs

A fundraiser begins Sunday afternoon to help pay travel expenses for the Manoa Paniolos to compete in the 2014 Pop Warner Super Bowl in Florida.

The event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hawaiian Brian’s at 1680 Kapiolani Blvd.

The Paniolos are the Peewee Division 1 state champions.

The Pop Warner Super Bowl will take place Dec. 6-13 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.