Vandals scatter remains at cemetery

Vandals broke into a Pearl City cemetery tomb and scattered someone’s remains, prompting a police investigation.

Hawaii News Now reported Monday that volunteers cutting grass at Sunset Memorial Park found the desecrated remains over the weekend.

The volunteers said an empty cement box was found inside one of the tombs, and a pile of bones and bone fragments was dumped in another tomb nearby.

The incident is the latest in a string of vandalism and homelessness problems at the cemetery. And because Sunset Memorial Park doesn’t have regular maintenance workers or security guards, it’s unclear when the desecration happened.

Lui Moefu, who has family buried at Sunset Memorial Park, says the cemetery would be brought back to “how beautiful it was before” if the city or state were to get involved.

Suspect shines laser at military helicopter

Marine Corps officials said Tuesday that someone pointed a laser at a UH-1Y Huey helicopter flying routine operations near Marine Corps Training Area Bellows on Dec. 5.

“The incident has been reported to the Honolulu Police Department. (The) Naval Criminal Investigative Service along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation are actively investigating this crime,” Marine Corps Base Hawaii said in a news release.

Col. Raul Lianez, commanding officer for the base, said lawless acts like pointing harmful lasers at aircraft endanger lives.

Laser illuminations can distract, disorient and debilitate a pilot and can lead to catastrophic results if the pilot cannot see instruments to remain on course or maneuver, the Marine Corps said.

Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. Violators can receive up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the base said.

Anyone having information about a laser incident is asked to call the HPD by dialing 911 or report it by email to the Federal Aviation Administration. NCIS also can be texted with tip information at CRIMES (274637).

Hawaii island

Hostage situation ends in Pahoa

An hours-long hostage situation ended Tuesday with the arrest of a 33-year-old man in the Leilani Estates subdivision in Pahoa.

Police said the situation ended just after 2 p.m. with the surrender of Jovin Chang, who shot himself in the face with a rifle when he emerged. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center.

At about 5:40 a.m. patrol officers responded to a call of a shooting on Nohea Street, where a 25-year-old man sustained several gunshot wounds to his body. Police said he was transported to Hilo Medical Center in stable condition.

The suspect fled the scene and ended up at a home about 10 blocks away on Leilani Avenue, said Alan Richmond, spokesman for the Hawaii Police Department. He barricaded himself inside with five female hostages, ages 9, 11, 14, 16 and 30, police said.

None was harmed.

Officers closed Leilani Avenue in Leilani Estates between Hapuu and Highway 130 sometime before 9:10 a.m., and it remained closed for the investigation.

A resident, who requested her name not be used, said she heard about 15 to 20 gunshots between 5:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. She said the gunshots were sporadic.

Kauai

Man found unresponsive at beach

A man from Canada died Monday after he was found unresponsive in shallow waters off Lydgate Beach Park in Wailua.

He has been identified as Samuel Pinkas, 68.

According to reports, Pinkas was snorkeling when he was found unresponsive at approximately 3:30 p.m. He was brought to shore, and lifeguards immediately administered CPR and applied an automated external defibrillator.

Firefighters and medics soon arrived and continued attempts to resuscitate Pinkas. He was transported to Wilcox Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Volunteers from Life’s Bridges, a grief counseling service, are assisting Pinkas’ family.

An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death, but foul play is not suspected.