Police have opened an investigation into the discovery yesterday of human remains in a ravine in Kalihi.

Lt. Bill Kato said the "full skeletal remains" were in a ravine behind the Hauiki Homes housing project on Meyers Street.

Kato said it was unknown yesterday if the remains were of a man or a woman. He said there was no determination whether the case involved foul play or suspicious circumstances.

"We are looking into missing persons cases in the area to see if this matches any that we have," Kato said.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office and the military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Hickam Air Force Base are handling the forensics in the case, and officers are awaiting the results, Kato said.

The bones were found at 10:17 a.m. by a resident of Hauiki Homes.

HOUSE CANDIDATE ARRESTED AT HOME

State House candidate Carol Philips was arrested Wednesday at her Hale'iwa home and charged with violating a temporary restraining order, a misdemeanor. She posted bail of $1,000 and was released, according to a police report.

Philips yesterday said the situation involves a past acquaintance, whom she declined to identify, who is harassing her. Philips said she and the man had taken out restraining orders on each other.

Philips said the man forged an e-mail to make it appear that she was harassing him, and that she will pursue a complaint to law enforcement agencies regarding the falsified e-mail.

"Had the Honolulu Police Department made any attempt to verify the authenticity of the e-mail the arrest would not have taken place," Philips said in a written statement. "I regret that this incident has shifted public attention away from what is most important — creating a sustainable and affordable future for Hawai'i's people. I look forward to these charges being dismissed and continuing my work for the community."

Philips is a Republican running for the 46th District seat (Kahuku, North Shore, Schofield) held by Democrat Michael Magaoay.

SHARK SIGHTING SHUTS HANALEI BAY

Kaua'i Ocean Safety officials have closed Hanalei Bay until further notice after a shark was spotted in the area yesterday morning.

Lifeguards saw an 8- to 10-foot shark and posted signs to alert beachgoers.

Hanalei Bay will be reopened when it is deemed safe for the public to re-enter the water, county officials said.

Those wanting to spend time in the ocean are urged to go to other beaches with lifeguards around the island.

For more information, contact the Kaua'i County Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-6506.

MINOR QUAKE HITS OFF BIG ISLAND

A minor earthquake rumbled across the ocean floor northwest of the Big Island early yesterday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The 1:25 a.m. quake was assigned a magnitude of 3.2.

No damage or injuries have been reported and no tsunami was triggered.

The quake was centered about 20 miles northwest of Hawi and about 9 miles beneath the surface.

WOMAN CRITICAL AFTER CAR FLIPS

A woman suffered critical injuries yesterday after a car overturned in an accident near 59-049 Pupukea Road on the North Shore about 7:30 a.m.

Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said when HFD crews, police and EMS personnel arrived, the woman was in the car, which was overturned on the road.

The crews removed her from the car and she was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.

Police closed the road from the bottom near the Foodland market to an area past the hairpin curve.

Area residents said that stretch of road can be dangerous, especially when vehicles have to drive on the curve when pedestrians and bicyclists are present.