Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
Mo-ped crash victim identified
A man killed in a mo-ped crash on the Big Island has been identified as Bartolo Saragosa III, 37, of Lakewood, N.J.
Police said Saragosa was traveling south Monday night on Kuakini Highway when he hit a guardrail at the intersection of Kaleilei Street in Pu'uloa, North Kona.
Saragosa was thrown from the mo-ped and hit his head. He was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:56 p.m.
Couple escape injury in Palolo house fire
A neighbor and passer-by were credited yesterday with helping to put out a fire at the home of a Palolo couple in their 70s, who escaped unhurt.
Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said the fire started near the back door of the three-bedroom residence at 1871 PÅlolo Ave. when gas from a dryer leaked and ignited.
The blaze was reported at 3:53 p.m. and under control shortly afterward, he said.
Damage was about $30,000 to the home’s exterior and about $2,000 to the contents.
A neighbor and a passer-by used garden hoses to help extinguish the flames, Soo said. He said without their help, the home would have suffered major damage.
The fire also damaged the neighbor’s home. That damage was estimated at about $2,000, Soo said.
American Diabetes office robbed
A safe containing nearly $5,000 in cash and checks was stolen from the American Diabetes Association's Honolulu office Monday night.
The association had raised the money for Saturday's Walk for Diabetes fund-raiser to support local diabetes programs and services. Call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Gun used in burglary attempt at youth club
A burglary attempt over the weekend at the Boys & Girls Club in Wai'anae has program director Kimo Bajet especially worried because the criminals had a gun and used it.
Bajet said someone forced open the door to the club's electrical booth and cut power to the alarm system Saturday evening. When the power went out, the alarm company reacted, sending police to the scene.
Bajet said the frustrated burglars fired two gun shots through the glass window of the back door before fleeing.
"What frightens me is that they could have hurt someone," Bajet said.
The Boys & Girls Club, on the Wai'anae Elementary School campus, is open Monday through Saturday and has a game room, computer center, a library, teen center and a gym for its 1,100 members. No one was hurt and police are investigating the crime.
Officers forced to kill unruly cow
A runaway cow was shot and killed Monday after the animal injured a ranch hand and charged onto Farrington Highway near Honokai Hale, police said.
The 1,500-pound cow was on the mauka side of Farrington Highway when police responded at 1:40 p.m. Police stopped westbound traffic on Farrington Highway, but couldn't stop eastbound traffic when the cow charged toward homes.
The officers shot the cow near the Ko Olina Golf Club.
Teens help clean butts off beaches
Teenagers from the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's teen tobacco program will hit the beach today to clean the sand of discarded cigarette butts as part of the national Kick Butts Day.
About 50 high school students have already signed up to patrol Nanakuli, Ma'ili and Poka'i Bay beach parks and Makaha surfing beach from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Call Jadeen Meyers or Shelly Enos at 696-1440.
Caution called for during pool repairs
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County is asking the public to use caution at Sakamoto Pool during repairs this month.
The $163,700 project includes fixing cracked masonry walls, upgrading electrical panels, repairing metal gates at the facility and painting exterior walls and storage rooms. Call (808) 270-7931.
Traffic on Kahekili to be addressed
Traffic on Kahekili Highway will be the subject of a community forum at Ahuimanu Elementary School cafeteria today at 7 p.m.
State highway and city officials will attend. The forum is being led by Sen. Bob Nakata, D-23rd (Kane'ohe-Kahuku).
