The man accused in a Waikele beating incident with racial overtones pleaded not guilty to assault charges yesterday and will face trial in May.

Gerald Pa'akaula appeared briefly before Circuit Court Judge Derrick Chan. His lawyer, Todd Eddins, entered the not- guilty plea for him.

Chan set trial for the week of May 29.

Pa'akaula, accompanied to court by his wife, declined comment after the hearing. He is free on $50,000 bail.

He was charged with two felony assault charges for allegedly beating a married couple in the parking lot of Waikele Shopping Center Feb. 19.

The incident began after the couple's car struck Pa'akaula's parked vehicle.

Pa'akaula's son, a minor, also was arrested. His case has been referred to Family Court.

A police affidavit said the younger Pa'akaula called the driver of the other car, Andrew Dussell, a "f------ haole."

Prosecutors said the incident was not classified as a hate crime because it was motivated by the traffic incident and not by race.