Hawaii

HILO, Hawaii — Nine college students escaped a house fire in Hilo Wednesday night when fire swept through their three-story rental home.

The students who lived in the home all escaped without injury. Flames erupted from the home.

“The flames were incredible. It was like as high as palm trees, and as we came out of this place we could already feel the heat,” neighbor Tim Kitagawa said.

Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to Kitigawa’s house. However, they could not salvage the rental. It collapsed into a nearby gulch.

“There was no way, no one could do anything at that point,” Kitagawa said. (Read the full post about ‘9 People Escape Burning Hilo Home’…)

HONOLULU — A visitor discovered a body at a waterfall in Princeville, Kauai, police said.

The body of a Caucasian man was found at the bottom of a 10-foot waterfall near Anini Stream on Wednesday morning, police said.

Authorities are trying to identify the victim.

Police said they do not suspect foul play.

The cause of death has not yet been determined.

HONOLULU — A motorcyclist was critically injured Thursday morning at an intersection in Kaimuki.

The motorcyclist rear ended a vehicle at the intersection of 6th and Mooheau avenues at about 1 a.m.

The vehicle was stopped at a red light, police said.

The impact threw the 45-year old Kailua man driving the motorcycle from his bike.

Paramedics treated the victim and took him to the Queen’s Medical Center with massive head injuries, officials said.

HONOLULU — A man stabbed a teenage boy seriously injuring him early Thursday morning in Kalihi Valley, police said.

The victim was standing along a roadway when two men in a white Nissan Altima drove up and confronted him, police said.

The driver challenged the young man to a fight and then stabbed the teenager, police said.

Paramedics treated the victim and took him to Queen’s Medical Center in serious condition.

Police described the attackers as Polynesian, with short hair and slender builds.

Honolulu police classified the case as an attempted murder investigation.

HONOLULU — There was a sharp decline in fireworks-related fires this New Year’s Eve compared to last year, the Honolulu Fire Department officials said.

The wet weather and the bad economy had something to with the decrease, HFD officials said.

There seemed to be more illegal aerial fireworks than ever around Oahu on New Year’s Eve and plenty of heavy smoke in neighborhoods with lots of pyrotechnics and not much wind. However, HFD said fireworks-related fires dropped by nearly 60 percent this year. There were 24 fires blamed on fireworks compared to 57 in 2007.

“I would say that they were all pretty much annoyance type of fires and not anything like that happened that threatened someone’s home or possibly could have injured them,” HFD Capt. (Read the full post about ‘New Year Sees Sharp Decline In Fireworks-Related Fires’…)

HONOLULU — Honolulu police said a house fire in Papakolea late Wednesday night was intentionally set.

The fire broke out just before midnight on the first floor of the house at 554 Kauhane St.

Several family members were home, but managed to escape without injury.

“The occupants were controlling it when we got there with a garden hose. We took over, extinguished, made sure it wasn’t extended into the house,” Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Terry Seelig said.

Officials estimate damage at about $45,000.

The family is able to live on the second floor of the structure, fire officials said.

HONOLULU — Workers evacuated from a medical clinic on School Street in Kalihi Friday morning after an employee found a suspicious looking box.

Firefighters responded to the call at about 8:15 a.m. at the Kokua Kalihi Valley Center.

A worker discovered a small fiberglass box in the basement and did not know whom it belonged to. Workers said they saw the box on Wednesday but did not call authorities until Friday.

The employees stood outside the building while crews investigated.

“We are a little bit worried, wondering who would leave a suspicious package in the clinic,” said Dr. (Read the full post about ‘Suspicious Looking Box Prompts Clinic’s Evacuation’…)

HONOLULU — Two motorcycle crashes on Oahu Thursday night left one driver dead and another critically injured.

In Kunia, a 29-year-old man died after crashing his motorcycle into a parked pickup truck at about 8 p.m., Emergency Medical Services officials and police said.

It happened near the Kunia Town Center at the corner of Kupuna Loop and Kupuohi Street.

“Well, I just heard the screech and the bang. (Read the full post about ‘Motorcycle Crashes Kill 1, Injure Another’…)

HONOLULU — The Board of Water Supply on Friday canceled its request for Windward Oahu residents to voluntarily conserve water.

The heavy rains Oahu experienced in the past month have helped to recharge water sources on the windward side, BWS officials said.

In the middle of December, water officials said windward water demand dropped by about 1.5 million gallons a day compared to a year ago. Officials also credit efforts by Windward Oahu residents to voluntarily cut back their water use.

Four months ago, the board asked residents to conserve after finding water sources like the Waihee Tunnel in Kahaluu running about 50 percent lower than normal.

“That doesn’t mean people should waste water. (Read the full post about ‘Board Of Water Supply Cancels Windward Conservation’…)

HONOLULU — Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Wednesday announced he has chosen state Rep. Kirk Caldwell as the city managing director.

Caldwell takes over for Wayne Hashiro, who left his position to become the manager and chief engineer for the Board of Water Supply.

“I have worked closely with Kirk Caldwell over the past several years, especially on those issues that were of concern to his constituents in Manoa, McCully, Moiliili, Makiki and Palolo,” Hannemann said in a written statement. “He has a passion for public service, and was instrumental in helping to lead the charge with me for the passage last month of the rail transit charter amendment. (Read the full post about ‘Hannemann Names Caldwell Managing Director’…)