A Waikiki public school teacher pleaded not guilty Monday in Circuit Court to five sex assault charges involving a minor.

Michael Wright, 33, a teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, is scheduled to go on trial Nov. 21 on a charge of first-degree sex assault of a minor under 16 years old; a charge of first-degree sex assault of a minor under 14 years old; and three counts of third-degree sex assault with someone under 14 years old.

First-degree sex assault involves sexual penetration while third-degree assault involves sexual contact. The alleged crimes involve one victim over a five-year period from July 2010 to July 2015.

Wright is free on $200,000 bail.

On Sept. 13, the day an Oahu grand jury returned an indictment charging Wright with the five counts of sex assault, a judge issued an order prohibiting him from having contact with the alleged victim.

The Department of Education said Wright has been an employee for nine years, and he was placed on paid leave after officials learned of his arrest on Sept. 8.

State backs off seawall plan for Valley Isle

The state will not build a seawall along Honoapiilani Highway near the Olowalu General Store in the western part of Maui after community protests.

The state Department of Transportation had planned to build a seawall and put boulders along the highway to protect it from erosion.

On Monday, transportation officials agreed with environmentalists and residents to revise the project by re-striping the highway and moving the lanes in the mauka direction, farther away from the pounding surf. The stone protective seawall originally planned at mile-marker 16 will not be constructed.

Environmentalists said they were worried about the project’s impact on beachgoers and Hawaiian monk seals that frequent the beach.

“We have been in communication with the public and listening to their concerns on the subject for more than a month. Today’s compromise will give HDOT Highways three years or more to work with the community to protect Honoapiilani Highway,” said Ed Sniffen, state Highways Division deputy director, in a news release.

DOT said the modifications were made after meetings with environmental groups, including Malama Olowalu and Maui Tomorrow Foundation, and Maui residents.

Maui Tomorrow agreed to drop a lawsuit filed against the project. Albert Perez, the group’s executive director, said in the DOT news release: “The changes to the project should help preserve an important monk seal habitat and preserve access for ulua fishermen, net fishermen, and cultural practitioners.”