Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

LEEWARD O'AHU

Building burns at site of 2001 fire

Honolulu fire officials yesterday were investigating the cause of a fire at a community hale on the Hoa 'Aina O Makaha farm, which had been destroyed by fire in 2001.

Yesterday's fire to the open-air thatched shack caused minor damage to palm leaves of the roof, according to firefighters with the Wai'anae station. It was reported about 6 p.m. and extinguished by fire crews.

The hale, next to Makaha Elementary School, was destroyed by arsonists in June 2001. It was rebuilt through a community effort of volunteers. A Quonset hut on the property also was vandalized at the time.

The 2001 fire was part of a series of arsons at Wai'anae Coast schools.

Six lost hikers airlifted to safety

Six hikers who had lost their way in Wai'anae Valley yesterday afternoon were airlifted out of a river bed by an HFD helicopter.

One female hiker suffered a twisted ankle, but declined treatment. The others were uninjured, said HFD Capt. Kenison Tejada.

All of the hikers are local residents in their 30s, Tejada said.

Eight hikers started out around 9 a.m. but six wandered off, leaving two to walk out of the valley, he said. The missing hikers called the Fire Department about 4:15 p.m.

EAST HONOLULU

Man rescued on Rabbit Island

A 47-year-old man who was riding a motorized hang glider was picked up by lifeguards on Manana, better known as Rabbit Island, after his engine apparently gave out yesterday afternoon.

It was unclear whether the man landed on Rabbit Island or had to swim to it, said acting Lt. Ron Bregman of the city's Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services. The man was reported down about 3 p.m.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Horse-drawn rig overturns, hurts three

A horse-drawn carriage taking tourists through the Big Island's Waipio Valley flipped over yesterday, slightly injuring three of the nine passengers.

Four horses were pulling the wagon through the picturesque valley on the Big Island's North Shore when something spooked them around 10:30 a.m. The horses tipped over the wagon, spilling passengers and the driver onto Waipio Valley Road, north of Hi'ilawe River, according to Capt. Mike Matsui of the Honoka'a fire station.

Three passengers were treated for minor injuries at North Hawaii Community Hospital and released.

None of the horses appeared to be seriously injured, Matsui said.