Honolulu Police yesterday were continuing an investigation of a traffic accident in which investigators say a 69-year-old woman was critically injured Friday at around 8:15 p.m. when she and another woman were struck by a car at a North Nimitz Highway crosswalk, 21 feet west of Ahua Street.

The two women were walking north inside the marked Nimitz crosswalk, moving with the signal to cross, when an eastbound blue 2000 Ford driven by a 21-year-old man ran a red light and hit them, police said witnesses told them.

The older woman was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, and the younger woman, age 40, also was taken to Queen's with minor injuries, they said. Police said neither speed nor alcohol appeared to have been a factor in the accident.

'AIEA HEIGHTS

HIKER, 61, RESCUED OFF WAIMALU TRAIL

Personnel from Emergency Medical Services and the Ho-nolulu Fire Department rescued a 61-year-old woman hiker who fell between 20 and 30 feet off the Waimalu Trail at the eastern end of 'Onikiniki Place shortly before noon yesterday, according to city emergency services spokesperson Bryan Cheplic. He gave no details about the extent of her injuries.

Firefighters were able to reach the woman and move her back up to the trail, said fire Capt. Sigmund Oka. She was taken by helicopter to the landing zone, where paramedics transported her to Tripler Army Medical Center in serious condition, Oka said. She was stable when she entered Tripler, Oka said.

3 GROUPS TO MEET WITH HIRONO

Three Hawai'i groups will host a breakfast with 2nd Congressional District candidate Mazie Hirono on Tuesday at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i.

The event will start at 7:30 a.m. in the Manoa Grand Ballroom. A continental breakfast will be served for $20 per person.

It is sponsored by the Hawai'i Association of Realtors, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Retail Merchants of Hawai'i.

Those interested in attending the event must call in advance to reserve a seat. For more information, or to sign up for the event, call the center at 949-5531.

HGEA ENDORSES RANDALL IWASE

The Hawai'i Government Employees Association announced yesterday that it has endorsed former Mililani state Sen. Randall Iwase for governor.

The state's largest labor union did not make an endorsement in the Democratic primary, which Iwase won last weekend. Some of the union's officials had courted Big Island Mayor Harry Kim and others to run for governor. Iwase faces Republican Gov. Linda Lingle in November.

The HGEA has also endorsed former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono in the 2nd Congressional District. The union did not endorse in the crowded Democratic primary, which Hirono won. Hirono faces Republican state Sen. Bob Hogue.