Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
Unattended stove started fatal fire
A Kalihi fire that killed an 82-year-old woman and left 25 people homeless on Wednesday was caused by an unattended stove that burned food and ignited the second-floor kitchen, a fire investigator said.
The owner of the house, Pascual Oasay, 86, had been cooking on the electric stove and had turned down the heat for the cooking pot before leaving to take a bath, his daughter said.
"He was cooking food for the family," said daughter Felicitas Pascua. Honolulu Fire Department investigator Capt. Glenn Solem said the heat from the stove burned the food and ignited nearby curtains and surrounding combustibles.
The fire at 1511 Adelaide St. killed 82-year-old Pia Oasay and caused an estimated $480,000 in damage.
Hana dengue cases grow by 2 to 71
The Department of Health yesterday confirmed two more cases of dengue fever in Hana, Maui, raising the statewide total to 111.
Both patients had the mosquito-borne virus in June and live in a household where someone already had tested positive.
Despite some lingering cases, health experts remain optimistic the outbreak is under control. They do, however, warn that it could flare up, especially if the mosquito population increases.
There are now 71 confirmed cases of dengue in Hana and a total of 82 on Maui; 25 on O'ahu; and four on Kaua'i.
Security lapse jams airport at Lihu'e
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Security forces cleared Lihu'e Airport for 20 minutes yesterday after a private guard left a door to a secure area unguarded.
Department of Transportation public information officer Marilyn Kali said that a Wackenhut security officer hired by an airline was posted at the entrance to a secure area, and left the post to visit a restroom. A Federal Aviation Administration official noted the unguarded door at 11:30 a.m. and declared a security breach.
Kali said all passengers were escorted out of the terminal, leaving four interisland aircraft at gates and one incoming flight held on the taxiway. The airport was cleared of passengers by 11:30, and the secure area was searched. No problems were found and passengers were allowed to return to the terminal.
"There were some long lines," Kali said.
Ha'ena man faces assault charges
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A Ha'ena man is accused of climbing into a lifeguard stand at Ha'ena Beach Park Wednesday and assaulting the lifeguard on duty.
Doiron Makuiki, 32, was arrested Thursday and charged with assault and terroristic threatening. He remained in police custody yesterday. The lifeguard suffered minor injuries and was back on duty yesterday.
USS Greeneville coming home today
Home port probably never looked so good.
After enduring six months at sea, a change of captains, a grounding, a collision and the war on terrorism, the nuclear submarine USS Greeneville will sail into Pearl Harbor this morning.
Relatives of the crew will greet the submarine, but the 11 a.m. homecoming will not be open to the public or the media, said Lt. Cmdr. Kelly Merrell, spokeswoman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s submarine force.
