A man was killed on the Big Island yesterday when he fell into a blowhole on the coastline below Honuapo on Highway 11, officials said.

Fire department Capt. Monn-el Kim said bystanders saw the man fall in at 10:31 a.m.

Rescue personnel could not find him. Later, a helicopter search spotted him floating face down about 100 yards south of the blowhole and 30 yards offshore.

The body was taken to shore by a rescue swimmer and a net, then to a hospital.

FISHERMAN HURT IN FALL FROM CLIFF

A 28-year-old man was in Wilcox Hospital yesterday after falling from a cliff Friday afternoon at Ulua Point just outside Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua'i.

His condition was not disclosed.

Jered Melandez was fishing with friends at about 3:35 p.m. when he slipped and fell about 25 feet onto rocks near the water's edge and sustained serious injuries, a county spokeswoman said.

A four-man rescue crew from the Lihu'e fire station responded on a 24-foot boat. After assessing the situation, Capt. Albert Kaui requested helicopter assistance from the Coast Guard.

Crewman Ehren Edwards, who was dropped off in rough water about 20 yards from Melandez, swam over to the rocks and prepared him for the airlift.

The helicopter arrived at around 4:55 p.m. and flew Melandez to Lihu'e Airport, where waiting medics took him to Wilcox Hospital.

BEE MITE FOUND IN ANOTHER HILO HIVE

A single varroa mite was detected in Hilo Thursday by state agriculture department crews that were searching for and checking wild beehives.

The sole mite was found among 700 bees collected along a wastewater plant access road near Hilo Airport.

The hive has since been destroyed.

The bee mite count is now at 44 from a total of about 34,000 bees collected.

Varroa mites, among the most destructive pests of honey bees, have not been detected in any hives managed by beekeepers on the island.

The department will continue to collect samples in Hilo and around the island to determine the extent of the varroa mite infestation.

Hilo residents are asked to report wild beehives and bee swarms to the state's toll-free Pest Hotline at 643-PEST (7378).

The state is also asking beekeepers and the public not to transport bees or beekeeping equipment in or out of a 15-mile radius around Hilo Bay.

Information and previous news releases on varroa mites are available on the department's Web page at http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/pi/ppc/varroa-bee-mite-page.