Whole Foods Market yesterday marked the start of construction of its Maui store, at Maui Mall with a traditional Hawaiian blessing.

Work on the 26,366 square-foot store is scheduled to continue through next year, with the opening scheduled for the first quarter of 2010.

The blessing was presided over by Kahu Les Kuloloio, and attended by community leaders and representatives from Whole Foods Market, Alexander & Baldwin and Maui Mall.

Surfing Goat Dairy, Maui Brewing Company, Howard's Nurseries, and Kula Grown Organic Produce are among the local suppliers who will provide natural and organic products sold in the store.

Whole Foods Market opened its first Hawai'i store at Kahala Mall in September. Whole Foods Market also has plans for stores in Ward Village and Kailua on O'ahu.

WOMAN CHARGED IN HOME INVASION

An 18-year-old woman was charged yesterday with allegedly planning an Aug. 11 Aliamanu home invasion robbery which left a shooting victim paralyzed.

Kiara Garlasa Valdez is accused of being an accomplice to first-degree burglary. The indictment alleges that between March 1 and Aug. 11, Valdez solicited another person to commit a burglary at 1256 Hulakui Drive and participated in planning or committing the offense.

An $11,000 warrant was issued yesterday for the arrest of Valdez.

Valdez allegedly told the robbers about a bag in the house containing cash and drugs belonging to Timothy Lapitan. The suspects allegedly found no bag in the house and Lapitan was shot in the abdomen as he attempted to push the intruders out of the home. The shooting left Lapitan paralyzed.

John Matt Rasalan, 17, charged Thursday in connection with the home invasion, was included in yesterday's 16-count indictment. Rasalan was charged with being one of five people who forced their way into the home of Teresita Lapitan at gunpoint and held her, Timothy Lapitan and Theresa Gomes against their will.

Yesterday's indictment charges brothers Kevin "Rambo" Khamsouk, 20, and Kerry Khamsouk, 18; Nicholas Kyle Nichols, 18; and Rasalan each with two counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of kidnapping, first-degree burglary and six counts of carrying or use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Nichols, the alleged shooter, is also charged with attempted second-degree murder and a place to keep firearm offense.

The fifth suspect, 16, is at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility under Family Court jurisdiction.

Nichols and most or all of the other male suspects in the Aliamanu case are tied to a group formerly known as "Outlaws" but now called "The Wrecking Crew," police said.

SHOOTING SUSPECT INDICTED IN ASSAULT

An 18-year-old man was indicted yesterday for allegedly using a baseball bat and golf club to beat a man in Kalihi.

The three-count indictment accuses Shaw M. Awber, also known as Shaw Mohammad Awber, of two counts of second-degree assault stemming from separate attacks on a man on Dec. 3, 2007. Awber is also charged with first-degree criminal property damage.

He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center.

Awber was also charged last week with attempted first-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder and other charges in connection with a June 29 incident in which 10 shots were allegedly fired at 11 people in a pickup truck on Nimitz Highway. Bail in that case is $200,000.

Awber, who turned 18 last month, was waived by Family Court, clearing the way for him to be charged as an adult in both cases.