Two Japanese visitors were assaulted yesterday morning in Waikiki while waiting to catch a bus to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.

The women, in their 20s, were treated and released at Straub Clinic and Hospital. The women were on Kuhio Avenue at 6:30 a.m. when they were assaulted, police confirmed.

The Visitor Aloha Society is assisting the two women here to celebrate one of their birthdays, said Jessica Rich, president of the nonprofit group founded in 1997 by the Honolulu Rotary Club. The society is lending the women moral support, working with the Honolulu prosecutor's office and giving them meal vouchers.

"This does not do well for tourism," Rich said. "It's sad that something like this has to happen to two of our visitors."

MAN, 27, DROVE CAR INTO OFFICER

A 27-year-old man has been arrested for investigation of attempted murder of a police officer and forgery charges, police said.

Friday's arrest stemmed from an incident that happened at 7:21 p.m. Tuesday. That's when the police officer, who was responding to an Ala Moana business to investigate a forgery in progress, was struck repeatedly by a car, police said. The extent of the officer's injuries was not available.

When police arrived at the store, the witness pointed out the suspect, but when police approached the suspect, he fled to a car. The officer approached the car, and that's when the man allegedly struck the officer several times with his vehicle.

Later that evening, police located the man's car a short distance away and saw the man running away. Police arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder in the first degree and forgery in the second degree, police said.

NANAKULI COLLISION INJURES DRIVER, 61

A 61-year-old man was in critical condition last night after the vehicle he was driving struck a stopped vehicle from behind in an early morning accident on Farrington Highway, police said.

The 4 a.m. incident occurred 62 feet southeast of He'elelua Street in Nanakuli.

The man was injured when the 2009 Isuzu Ascender he was driving rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a stoplight, police said. The 39-year old woman driving the other vehicle was not injured in the crash.

At the time, the weather was cloudy with passing showers and traffic was light, police said. It is not known whether speed or alcohol were factors in the incident.

TOPPLED POLES CAUSE OUTAGE

About 24 homes and businesses were still without power yesterday evening after two utility poles near the intersection of Ward Avenue and Ilaniwai Street toppled over or were knocked down, Hawaiian Electric Co. said.

Initially the outage after the 7:30 a.m. incident affected 350 customers, said Sharon Higa, a HECO spokeswoman.

HECO repair crews were on the scene all day and hoped to have the power restored by later last night, Higa said.

It was taking longer to restore service to a few customers whose electrical lines are tied directly into the downed poles, she said.

Repair crews were working to reroute power to the affected customers, Higa said.

It is unknown what caused the two poles to fall, one crashing on top of a parked car.