An early morning explosion in Waialua today was caused by a pipe bomb placed in a mailbox, police said. Specialized Services Division bomb technicians checked out neighboring mailboxes of a residence at 66-075 Waialua Beach Road, where the 2:57 a.m. explosion occurred, but found no other bomb.

Police closed down an area between Weed Circle and Waialua Beach Road for about three hours while bomb experts checked the neighboring mailboxes.

Authorities seek counterfeiters

CrimeStoppers and the U.S. Secret Service are asking for the public's help in identifying two men caught on surveillance video passing counterfeit $20 bills at the Mililani Fun Factory Aug. 1.

One of the two men went to the Fun Factory counter at the Town Center of Mililani and asked for change for several counterfeit $20 bills, police said. A couple of minutes later, a second man gave one of the bills in exchange for four $5 bills. Both men left the area together.

The first man is described as in his late teens, 6 feet tall, weighing 140 pounds. He had a slim build, tan complexion, with short, straight, dark hair. He wore a white tank top, light-colored shorts, sandals, and sunglasses.

The second man is believed to be in his late teens, 5 foot 8, 140 pounds with a slim build. He had a tan complexion, short, straight, dark hair and a mustache. He wore a light-colored T-shirt.

Anyone with information should call Special Agent F.J. Carney at 541-1912 or call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 955-8300.

Man charged in purse snatching

Police yesterday charged 38-year-old Kenworth Noa with second degree robbery in connection with a purse snatching on Aug. 2. Noa, who has no permanent local address, is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Noa is accused of grabbing the purse of a woman who was at a Kilauea Avenue bus stop. During a struggle, she was allegedly punched and then dragged by a getaway car while still trying to hang on to the purse.

Hatchet allegedly used in attack

A man armed with a hatchet who allegedly attacked a 46-year-old woman yesterday at a downtown bus stop is undergoing psychiatric evaluation at The Queen's Medical Center.

The woman was punched and hit on the head with a hatchet in the unprovoked attack at 2 p.m. at Hotel and Richards streets. The woman had minor injuries, police said. She refused to press charges against the man, 58.

Police sent the man to the hospital for evaluation.

Pair pleads guilty to sex assault

A Kapolei man and his wife accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl pleaded guilty in Circuit Court yesterday.

Victor Flores, 38, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual assault, while his wife, Celeste, 38, pleaded guilty to second-degree sex assault and being an accomplice.

They were indicted in February 2001 and accused of sexually assaulting the girl over a six-month period ending in January 2001.