A 20-year-old woman was critically injured yesterday when she fell about 30 feet while hiking near the Pali Lookout.

Honolulu emergency services spokesman Bryan Cheplic said the woman was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. A male companion, 26, was taken to Queen's in stable condition, Cheplic said.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said the two were hiking on a dry waterfall bed on the side of a mountain near the Pali Lookout when the woman apparently slipped and fell about 30 feet.

HFD rescue specialists were dispatched to the Pali Lookout area at 5 p.m., and an Olomana fire company set up a landing zone for the department helicopter at Pali Golf Course, where the hikers were airlifted to medical personnel shortly before 6 p.m.

THREE MEN CHARGED IN ALLEGED ASSAULT

An O'ahu grand jury yesterday charged three men in connection with a reported sexual assault Feb. 23 on the state Capitol grounds.

Edward Eter, 26, of a North Kukui Street address, was charged with first-degree sex assault and kidnapping.

Turan T. Sirom, 23, also known as Durant Sirom, who has no permanent local address, and 19-year-old David Kimiuo, also known as Makichi Aiwo, of a Middle Street address, are accused of being accomplices to first-degree sex assault and kidnapping.

Prosecutors declined comment on the status of a 16-year-old boy who was arrested with the three men on South Beretania and Alakea streets at 3:15 a.m. Feb. 23.

CAR FIRE CLOSES PALI TUNNEL

A car fire yesterday forced the closure of the first Kailua-bound Pali Tunnel from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

No injuries were reported. Firefighters and police assisted motorists from seven vehicles, including HandiVan passengers, to safety, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig.

A 1985 Porsche headed to Kailua caught fire in the tunnel, Seelig said. The car was driven by a 19-year-old man, a Marine, who purchased it only a few days ago, Seelig said. The car was totally burned, police said.

CRASH VICTIM WAS FROM KA'A'AWA

The Honolulu medical examiner's office yesterday identified a woman who died of injuries suffered in a crash last month off Pali Highway.

Harriet Gilbertson, 87, of Ka'a'awa died Feb. 24 at The Queen's Medical Center of multiple injuries suffered in the Feb. 5 accident, the medical examiner's office said.

Police Sgt. John Agno said Gilbertson was speeding in a 1996 Chrysler Cirrus on a wet access road off Pali Highway, just uphill from Castle Junction, when the car went out of control and crashed. The car burst into flames but witnesses managed to pull the woman out of the car, Agno said. She was taken to Queen's in serious condition.

The death is O'ahu's eighth traffic fatality of 2008, compared with 17 at this time last year.

GROUP TO HOLD NOAA WORKSHOP

KAHULUI, Maui — The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement will hold a workshop Monday on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs and funding opportunities.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Lana'i Room at the Maui Beach Hotel.

"NOAA knows there are many great projects out in the community and wants to see more of them funded," said Napali Woode of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in a meeting announcement.

Representatives from the federal agency will be on hand to answer questions about NOAA's various funding programs.

To register, contact Rosalee Puaoi in Honolulu at 596-8155 or 800-709-2642, or visit www.hawaiiancouncil.org.

HILO BEATING LEADS TO ASSAULT CHARGE

Big Island police have charged a 26-year-old Puna man with second-degree assault in connection with a beating that occurred on Jan. 27 at a bar in the Hilo industrial area.

Joshua Labrador was charged with the offense Friday and was released after a family member posted $2,000 bail.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 27, South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of a fight at the bar on Maka'ala Street and encountered a large group of rowdy individuals, some of whom were challenging others in the crowd to fight.

The officers gained control of the situation and used a Taser in the arrests of two men.

A 33-year-old man suffered multiple fractures to his lower jaw and was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. His sister was also struck and sustained a deep cut to her face. She was treated at Hilo Medical Center.

SENATE PASSES BILL ON JUDGE AGE LIMIT

The state Senate on Tuesday passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would extend the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 80.

The bill is widely seen as an attempt to prevent Gov. Linda Lingle from appointing a chief justice to the state Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon will reach retirement age in 2010, Lingle's final year in office. The bill now moves to the state House.