About 100 East Oahu beachfront homeowners from Kaalawai Beach off Diamond Head to Maunalua Bay have been warned to remove vegetation blocking public access to the shoreline or face fines.

Homeowners are required to keep beach areas next to their property free from vegetation that interferes with public access, said Sam Lemmo, Department of Land and Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands administrator.

“In East Oahu we’ve observed a progressive trend of vegetation, particularly naupaka and beach heliotropes, growing extensively from private property onto the public beach. Sometimes, especially during high tides and periods of high surf, this vegetation completely prohibits people from accessing the beach,” said Andy Bohlander, a shoreline specialist with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, working with the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

If landowners don’t trim plants within 21 days of receiving a notice of noncompliance, they can be fined $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for each subsequent offense.

“It is important for landowners to continually maintain their vegetation in such a manner that it does not restrict lateral beach access,” Lemmo said.

The department overseas more than 750 miles of Hawaii shoreline and beaches.

“Once property owners become aware of the issue, most of them voluntarily cut their vegetation back and continue to maintain it,” Bohlander said.

Fiesta charged with murdering his wife

After stabbing his wife multiple times in front of their 10-year-old daughter, Pablo Fiesta Jr. then hit his wife in the head with a bottle of vinegar, Deputy Prosecutor Tiffany Kaeo told a state judge Tuesday.

Kaeo shared those details in court after an Oahu grand jury returned an indictment charging Fiesta, 46, with murder in the fatal stabbing of his wife, Cecilia.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins confirmed Fiesta’s bail at $500,000.

Kaeo told Perkins that Fiesta is not a U.S. citizen and poses a risk of flight.

Fiesta remains in custody at Oahu Community Correctional Center.

Police found Cecilia Fiesta, 43, unresponsive in the couple’s Aliamanu home Aug. 17.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner says she died from multiple stab wounds to her torso.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Island wastewater spills into ocean

Approximately 70,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater was released into waters near the Kulaimano Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pepeekeo, Hawaii island, between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

According to the Hawaii County Wastewater Division, the release was caused by a pump malfunction. The release occurred between 6 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. Monday.

The discharge was finally stopped when the flow was diverted to an empty aeration tank.