Prosecutors yesterday charged a 21-year-old Waimanalo man with a firearms offense.

John Christian Veikoso was being held in lieu of $11,000 bail after police said officers found an unloaded pistol in the trunk of his vehicle. Veikoso also had an outstanding $750 warrant.

Police stopped Veikoso's vehicle at Ala Moana Center at 1 a.m. Sunday after a witness reported seeing him and another man, 23, handling a gun. Police said they found the handgun after receiving permission from Veikoso to search the vehicle.

SUSPECT ARRESTED IN KUHIO ROBBERY

A 17-year-old male was arrested at 1:50 a.m. yesterday on suspicion of second-degree robbery.

Police said a 23-year-old man was walking on Kuhio Avenue when he was approached by a young man who asked to use the victim's phone. The man allegedly punched the victim, took his phone and ran away.

Police were notified, and found and arrested a suspect.

HEALTH CENTER GETS MONEY FOR ROOF

Gov. Linda Lingle has released $795,000 to re-roof the Diamond Head Health Center.

The money will also be used to replace an air-conditioning unit and portions of the courtyard.

The governor previously released $95,000 for project design work.

The re-roofing is to start in February and be completed in October 2009.

The Diamond Head Health Center houses various state Department of Health programs.

MAN CHARGED IN FATAL HILO SHOOTING

A 31-year-old man was charged yesterday with second-degree murder in the shooting death Sunday of a Hilo man.

Desmond Lewi was being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $1 million bail pending his initial appearance today at South Hilo District Court.

Lewi is accused of killing Cameron Selea'itu Mauga, 33, of Hilo. Police found Mauga with a gunshot wound to the chest at Puhi Bay in Hilo at 9:07 a.m. Sunday. He died at the Hilo Medical Center at 10:20 a.m.

Mauga and Lewi knew each other, police said.

Lewi was arrested a short distance from the shooting scene on Kauhane Street in Keaukaha.

Investigators are asking for the public's help in finding David Lewi, the 30-year-old brother of the suspect, believed to have information regarding the case. Call Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383; the police nonemergency line at 935-3311; or Big Island CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.