A fire Tuesday night at the Royal Kuhio Condominium in Waikiki caused an estimated $150,000 in damage, fire officials said yesterday.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig.

The fire started on the seventh-floor recreation deck, in an area where a contractor had stored flammable liquids, such as paint, solvents and sealing material, Seelig said.

No one was seriously injured in the 8:25 p.m. three-alarm fire at 2240 Kuhio Ave. The fire was declared under control at 8:45 p.m.

Royal Kuhio is a 385-unit, mixed-ownership condominium. Owners include time-share clubs, resort operators, individual investors and residents who occupy their apartments for all or part of the year.

BIG ISLAND TRUCK CRASH VICTIM ID'D

Big Island police yesterday identified a man killed Sunday in a North Kohala pickup-truck crash as Ronald J. Tavares, 21, of Waimea.

Tavares was a passenger in a 1988 Isuzu pickup truck that crashed on Akoni Pule Highway shortly before 2 a.m. Police said the truck and a 1980 GMC pickup may have been racing.

A Puna woman, 21, driving the Isuzu, was seriously hurt while the GMC driver — 34-year-old Brian Santiago, of North Kohala — was charged with negligent homicide and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

H-3 MOTORCYCLISTS FACE POLICE PROBE

Police are investigating reports of a group of motorcyclists intentionally slowing Kane'ohe-bound traffic on H-3 Freeway to allow one rider to speed ahead and do "wheelies" and other unsafe maneuvers.

The motorcycles are Japanese models and the operators wear helmets, police said. About six motorcyclists are involved.

The activity has been occurring the past few Sundays between noon and 2 p.m. on the Halawa side of the Tetsuo Harano Tunnel.