HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One of Hawaii’s most notorious serial rapists is set to be released Thursday, prompting concern about whether the so-called “Manoa rapist” is still a danger to the community.

John Freudenberg was flown back to Oahu on a charter flight last week from Hilo’s minimum security prison.

The transport was in preparation for his release on Thursday.

One of his victims told HNN Investigates that she believes he should remain behind bars.

“John Freudenberg is still a threat to public safety,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be released. The woman is credited with helping to catch Freudenberg after she picked him out of a line-up.

“He broke into my house and held me hostage in my home and held a knife to my throat, raping me and telling me he was going to kill me,” the woman said. She added that before he left, he said something to her that made her realize he had no self control. “He said, ‘I’m sorry, this had to happen to you,’” she said.

Freudenberg served more than 40 years behind bars for a series of attacks against 15 women in Manoa in the 1980s. He was 23 when he pleaded guilty to crimes, including rape, sodomy, sex abuse and burglary.

The woman who spoke to HNN said Freudenberg cannot be trusted and pointed to his own words at a parole hearing, in which he could not guarantee that he wouldn’t reoffend.

Freudenberg’s attorney, Myles Breiner, said he understands why victims feel that way, but said his client has served his time and deserves a chance to live outside prison walls.

Breiner pointed out that Freudenberg completed multiple sex offender treatment programs.

Breiner added his client recognizes the terrible things he has done, but has taken all steps necessary to be reformed. “He has spent 40 years in prison without a misconduct, which is extraordinary,” Breiner said.

The attorney said Freudenberg did not have one infraction while behind bars.

Freudenberg was a University of Hawaii Manoa honors student and president of his fraternity when he committed the crimes over a 14-month period.

He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and was denied parole repeatedly until last year. After his release, Freudenberg will live in a halfway house with an ankle monitor.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority said Freudenberg “will be closely supervised by the HPA’s Sex Offender Supervision Unit. He will be under the highest level of supervision that includes a strict curfew, electronic monitoring, reporting in-person to his parole officer at least once a week and other stringent rules he must adhere to.” Breiner also said Freudenberg will have to go out and find a job.

Freudenberg became an electrician while in prison.

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HONOLULU — Rich Hill saw an opportunity to empty his bench and took full advantage of it.

The Hawaii baseball team used all 17 of its position players — including first-time batter Itsuki Takemoto — and reached deep into its bullpen in a 13-1 midweek rout of little sibling Hawaii Hilo at Les Murakami Stadium on Tuesday night.

“It was great to see these guys compete,” Hill told Spectrum News. “Guys like Blake Hiraki, who’s meant so much to this program over four years. Getting Kamana (Nahaku) in there, getting Bronson (Rivera), and seeing our pitchers really compete. So that was awesome.”

Lineup regulars Kyson Donahue (2-for-3, three RBIs), Austin Machado (2-for-2, three runs) and Jake Tsukada (two walks, a hit by pitch and three runs) put up numbers while part-time starter Sean Rimmer belted his third homer of the season, best on the team among non-regulars.

Cory Ronan got the start and allowed Hilo’s only run, unearned, in the first inning. The first man out of the bullpen, Hunter Gotschall (1-1), went two innings with a walk to pick up the win. Six other relievers worked an inning each from there to round out the three-hitter.

UH (26-15, 9-9 Big West) has won five straight heading into this weekend’s three-game series against Big West co-leader Cal State Northridge (28-14, 14-4). The series opener is 6:35 p.m. Friday.

“I hope we have standing room only,” Hill said.

The ‘Bows are still well out of the BWC regular-season race, but with an RPI of under 90, have a chance to improve their resume for NCAA at-large consideration over the remaining 12 regular-season games.

UH improved to 4-0 against Division II competition this season, including 2-0 against Hilo. It’s closing in on its first 30-win season since 2012, which would be the first under third year coach Hill.

Takemoto, the freshman from Wakayama, Japan, entered the program billed as a two-way player but had so far appeared only as a right-handed pitcher.

That changed when he entered as a pinch hitter for Machado in the sixth inning. He struck out on four pitches against Jake Liberta in his first collegiate at-bat, but got a second chance as a designated hitter in the eighth and poked a single up the middle off of Waiakea High graduate Cody Hirata.

“He’s one of those guys in BP who’s shortened up everything,” Hill said. “He is exactly like (Shohei) Ohtani … it’s the whole batting stance and everything else. He’s got some juice in there. I’d like to get him some more reps. I think he’s got lightning in that bat; he just needs a lot of ABs.”

Hilo sophomore Tui Ickes, the older brother of UH third baseman Elijah Ickes, saw action at first base off the bench. But Elijah Ickes did not reach first with his brother manning the bag, nor did Tui Ickes reach third after drawing a walk.

UHH, led by coach Kallen Miyataki, was out of the running for the PacWest tournament and concluded its season at 19-31.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.