HAWAII THIEF GETS PROBATION IN THEFT OF COMPUTERSWoman gets probation for drugs, thefts Woman gets probation for drugs, thefts
By LILA FUJIMOTO, Staff Writer

WAILUKU – A one-year jail term was ordered for a Lahaina woman who was found with drugs and stolen property during arrests in December, January and April.

Tafaoata Tufaga, 36, was also placed on five years’ probation as she was sentenced Tuesday under a law calling for drug treatment for first-time, nonviolent drug offenders.

“She’s very serious about trying to get treatment and to put this drug use behind her,” said defense attorney Walter Vierra.

Tufaga, who is also known as Tufaga Aka, had pleaded no contest to five counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, three counts of possessing drug paraphernalia and two counts of second-degree theft.

The drug charges, which stemmed from arrests Dec. 27, Jan. 24 and April 20, involve methamphetamine, crack cocaine and marijuana, said Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Adams.

“All of these cases do involve methamphetamine use,” Adams said.

“She was in possession of a lot of stolen property she was trading for methamphetamine.”

On Jan. 24, detectives executed warrants to search Tufaga’s storage unit and her home on Hamau Place, finding laptop computers that had been stolen late last year during a break-in at a state Department of Transportation Highways Division office in Kihei, police said.

Tufaga was ordered to pay $881 in restitution.

As he imposed the sentence, 2nd Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto warned Tufaga that she would face prison if she doesn’t comply with requirements of her probation.

In another case Tuesday, Raffetto ordered a two-month jail term as part of five years’ probation for Douglas Kahahane.

The 21-year-old Lahaina resident was arrested April 8, 2004, after driving a stolen vehicle that hit a van containing a woman and four children and damaged a rock wall in Honokowai, said Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Sloper.

“His driving pattern was egregious,” she said.

“He didn’t stop for either of those accidents.”

She said Kahahane also tested positive for drug use while he was released on supervision.

Deputy Public Defender Kirstin Giroux said Kahahane had attended drug treatment classes as well as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous sessions.

He was working full-time in construction and helped support his ailing mother, Giroux said. She said no one was injured in the collision.

“I just hoping you can give me another chance in life,” Kahahane said in court Tuesday.

Kahahane was ordered to pay $3,250 in restitution and $150 in fines.

He had pleaded no contest to unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, reckless driving, inattention to driving, duty upon striking property, duty to give information and render aid and leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury.

Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.