A Kalihi man was charged yesterday with second-degree murder in the Oct. 28 stabbing death of his wife.

Melchor Balolong Adviento, 50, was being held on $1 million bail, police said.

Adviento was arrested Oct. 28 at his Kalihi home at 2110 Kahaha St., where the body of his wife, Erlinda Adviento, 43, was found in a bedroom. An autopsy determined she died of stab wounds to her heart and lung.

Adviento was taken to the The Queen's Medical Center for treatment of stab and slash wounds to his chest, arms and stomach. He was charged with murder following his discharge from the hospital.

TAX COLLECTIONS IN HAWAI'I UP 5.8%

State revenue collections are up 5.8 percent over last year after the first four months of the fiscal year, according to the state Department of Taxation.

The state pulled in $422 million in October, which was higher than September, but not high enough to keep the overall percentage growth for the year from dropping compared with last year. The state collected $255.3 million in general excise and use taxes in October, 4.6 percent higher than last year through four months.

Hotel room taxes were at $22.8 million, up 5 percent over last year. Individual income taxes were at $131.9 million, up 5.3 percent. Corporate income taxes were at $3.9 million, up 30.9 percent.

YARD SALE OFFSETS GIRL'S MEDICAL BILL

Friends of infant Kaydee Young will host a yard sale/gift and craft fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at 1028 Kahili St. to help offset medical bills from her recent emergency operation. Her parents are Jenene and Shawn Young.

At seven weeks old, Kaydee was rushed to the hospital unable to breathe. Doctors discovered heart and tracheal defects. Her trachea was the size of a juice-box straw and any obstructions, including mucus, made breathing difficult.

Unable to treat her here, doctors stabilized her and sent her to Cincinnati Children's Hospital a week ago. A team of surgeons worked on her for nine hours, successfully fixing her heart and reconstructing her trachea.

To donate items or money, call 263-0270.

FLOATING LANTERN FESTIVAL TODAY

The Pacific Gateway Center will sponsor its third annual Floating Lantern Festival from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the diamondhead side of Magic Island.

Traditional dances of Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, and music of Vietnam will be performed from 3 to 4 p.m. It will be followed by a "water droplet" ceremony in observance of the Buddhist monks recently killed in Burma as well as others killed around the world.

At sundown there will be the lighting of lanterns, including floating lanterns that will be set afloat in the ocean to usher in a time of renewal, peace and prosperity.