HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Fires hit homes in town, Wai'anae
Advertiser Staff
A fire early yesterday morning caused an estimated $430,000 in damage to an apartment building on Kapi'olani Boulevard.
The 3 a.m. fire in an eighth-floor unit at 2474 Kapi'olani was likely started by an electrical short, said Honolulu fire Capt. Jerry Spencer.
No injuries were reported, but the Red Cross was called to assist apartment residents left homeless by the fire, Spencer said.
At 3:14 a.m., firefighters also were called to a Wai'anae home, where a fire caused $30,000 in damage to a carport and $17,000 in damage to three cars inside. No injuries were reported, Spencer said.
KAUA'I
FIRE DESTROYS HALF OF LU'AU STRUCTURE
Fire caused an estimated $500,000 in damage early yesterday to a building used for lu'au shows at a Kaua'i resort.
A security guard at the ResortQuest Kaua'i Beach at Makaiwa resort spotted the fire at 4:32 a.m. It was extinguished within minutes of the arrival of firefighters but not before it destroyed about half of the 2,400-foot wooden structure used for lu'au shows, a spokesman for the Kaua'i Fire Department said.
Investigators said a smoldering fire knife used in a show the night before caused the fire.
WAIPAHU
MURDER-SUICIDE VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
The city Department of the Medical Examiner has identified the two victims in an apparent murder-suicide on Monday in Waipahu as Joel Norva, 36, and Yolanda Crawford, 44.
Both were Waipahu residents. The bodies were found at 12:42 a.m. in a pickup truck parked in front of 94-170 Leokane St. near the corner of Pupu'ole Street in the industrial section of Waipahu. Autopsies determined Crawford died from a gunshot to the neck and Norva from a self-inflicted shot to the head.
A 14-year-old girl who was shot in the face during the incident was taken to The Queen's Medical Center and was reported in critical but stable condition immediately after the shooting.
'EWA VILLAGES
ARSON SUSPECTED IN HOUSE BLAZE
Police believe a house fire in 'Ewa Villages Friday was intentionally set. Investigators estimated that the 3:30 a.m. fire at 91-1743 Paeko St. caused $300,000 damage to the house and $50,000 to the contents. The occupants are away on a trip.
BIG ISLAND
HEAT KILLED MAN IN AHUALOA FIRE
An autopsy on a man's body found in a burned Ahualoa home July 1 revealed the man died of heat injuries, police said.
Patrol officers were called to the home on the Old Mamalahoa Highway shortly after 3 p.m. in connection with a report of a violation of a Family Court protective order.
A man in the home warned police to get away from the house shortly before an explosion blew out the windows and started a fire that destroyed the building, police said.
Lt. Randall Medeiros said the subject of the Family Court restraining order was a 30-year-old man who used to live in the Ahualoa house.
A burned body was found in the debris. Police have no indication anyone other than the man they sought was inside the home, but have not yet confirmed the identity of the body.
SKINDIVER, 52, DROWNS AT MILOLI'I
A 52-year-old skindiver apparently drowned yesterday in waters off Miloli'i on the Big Island, the Hawai'i County Fire Department said.
Beachgoers found the man floating in the water at about 12:57 p.m. and brought him to shore. Witnesses and firefighters tried to resuscitate the man, but found no signs of life. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man's identity was not released.
7 ARRESTED IN RAID OF PUNA METH LAB
Big Island police and Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided a crystal methamphetamine operation at a home on O'ahu Street in Nanawale Subdivision in the Puna district.
Officers said that on Thursday they discovered a methamphetamine conversion laboratory in the home.
Police arrested and charged Debra Lani, 51, of no permanent address; James Lucas, 46, of 'Ainaloa Subdivision; Leona Lucas, 56, of 'Ainaloa Subdivision; Joseph Souza, 52, of Nanawale Subdivision; Donna Tarape, 54, of Nanawale Subdivision; Lionel Tarape, 56, of Nanawale Subdivision; and Keith Greggory, 53, of Nanawale Subdivision, on drug charges. Bail is $100,000 for each of them.
EAST HONOLULU
MAYOR'S MEETING AT KAISER HIGH
Mayor Mufi Hannemann and key members of his staff will be on hand to discuss community concerns from Makapu'u to 'Aina Haina at a town meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
The meeting will touch on such topics as the environment, land use, the Niu Valley sewer project and the proposed developments in the area. Updates also will be given on city transportation and park projects. The meeting, co-sponsored by Sen. Sam Slom, R-8th (Kahala, Hawai'i Kai), will be at the Kaiser High School cafeteria, 511 Lunalilo Home Road.
MANOA
LAB SCHOOL FIRE GIFTS TOP $46,000
The University of Hawai'i Foundation has received $46,545 in donations for the College of Education/University Laboratory School's Fire Recovery Fund as of Thursday.
Donations are still being accepted through the foundation's Web site, www.uhf.hawaii.edu. Donations may also be mailed to the University of Hawai'i Foundation, P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu, HI 96828-0270. Contributions should be marked for the "Fire Recovery Fund."
For more information, call 956-8849.
KAILUA
CALIFORNIA WOMAN PULLED FROM WATER
A 43-year-old woman from California was in critical condition yesterday after being pulled unconscious from the waters at Kailua Beach Park, officials said.
An off-duty federal firefighter and witnesses helped the woman from the water at about 4 p.m. and administered CPR until lifeguards and paramedics arrived, said Bryan Cheplic, a spokesman for the city's Emergency Services Department.
The woman was taken to Castle Medical Center in critical condition, he said.
