HILO, Hawai'i — A magnitude 3.2 earthquake shook the lower east rift zone of Kilauea yesterday morning at 8:59 a.m., but it wasn't clear if the quake will have any effect on the ongoing eruption.

The earthquake was centered beneath Pu'ulena crater at a depth of about two miles, according to an update from the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The eruption phase that began on July 21 from a series of fissures east of Pu'u 'O'o is continuing, with lava mainly ponding in the area surrounding the fissures. However, one fissure is still supplying lava to an 'a'a flow that is moving slowly southeast.

Scientists warned the vent areas are dangerous, and access to the eruption site is closed.

MAN CHARGED IN RAZOR-BLADE ATTACK

A 48-year-old Honolulu man was indicted yesterday by an O'ahu grand jury on a charge of attempted assault in the razor-blade attack of a 60-year-old woman.

Jay Shuji Kalahele is accused of slashing the woman's throat Saturday evening at Date and La'au streets. The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment.

About eight hours later, police went to a Date Street address in response to a male caller who wanted to surrender for slashing a woman's throat. There, Kalahele told police he cut the woman's throat with a razor blade, police said.

The charge of first-degree attempted assault in the first degree is a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Kalahele has five felony convictions — including burglary and second-degree assault — and five misdemeanor convictions from 1978 to 1989.

GRAND JURY INDICTS MAN IN BANK HEIST

A federal grand jury yesterday indicted a 20-year-old Kalihi man with this month's robbery of the Bank of Hawaii Kalihi branch.

George C. Aguiningoc Jr. on July 13 allegedly handed a teller a demand note stating "give all your money or I'll blow your (expletive) brains out" and took $9,787 from the bank at 1950 North King St., according to a federal criminal complaint filed earlier this month.

According to the complaint, police identified Aguiningoc as a suspect from a Honolulu CrimeStoppers tip and "confidential source" information. Aguiningoc voluntarily surrendered to a Kalihi Crime Reduction Unit officer days after the robbery.

KAWAIHAE MAN HELD IN FATAL CRASH

Big Island police have arrested a Kawaihae man in connection with a fatal crash July 20 in Honaunau that killed Hamakua resident Jules Anjain.

Police were called at 4:04 p.m., and learned that a 2000 Jeep Cherokee SUV traveling north on Hawai'i Belt Road near the 99 mile marker in Honaunau ran off of the right side shoulder of the roadway, hit an embankment and overturned.

The vehicle was carrying four people, and 33-year-old Anjain suffered fatal injuries.

Police said speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash, and arrested the 21-year-old alleged driver Monday on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants, negligent homicide, accident involving death or serious bodily injury, driving without a license and consumption or possession of liquor while operating a vehicle.

The alleged driver was released without charges pending further investigation.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Officer Marvin Troutman at 326-4646, ext. 229, or Acting Sgt. Wendall Carter at 961-2332.

Anjain's death is the 19th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared with 18 at this time last year.

WOMAN, 61, DIES AT DIVE EXCURSION

A 61-year-old woman visitor who was part of a dive excursion was pronounced dead at Straub Clinic and Hospital yesterday.

The city medical examiner's office identified her as Kathleen Aure of Oakland, Calif.

A cause of death had not been determined as of last night, although Bryan Cheplic, spokes-man for the city Emergency Services Department, said the woman apparently died of drowning.

City paramedics transported the woman to the hospital in critical condition about 10:30 a.m. from the boat docks adjacent to the Koko Marina Center in Hawai'i Kai.