NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Speed and alcohol cited in fatal crash

The 33-year-old male driver of a pickup truck killed when the vehicle hit a tree early yesterday in the Big Island's North Hilo district was identified as Jaime Rain Church of Hilo. Police said Church was heading west on Amauulu Road near Maikalani Road at 2:27 a.m. when he lost control of a Dodge Ram 2500, ran off the roadway and hit a tree.

Church was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:20 a.m. He was not wearing a seat belt. Police said speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.

Heart attack killed driver who crashed

A 34-year-old Kailua-Kona man died from a heart attack, not from the injuries he suffered when his mo-ped hit a car on Feb. 3, according to an autopsy.

Jason Snell of Kailua-Kona was driving a mo-ped and traveling south on Alii Drive about 3 p.m. when he struck the rear of a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder multipurpose vehicle stopped on the roadway in front of Magic Sands Beach.

Big Island police seek 3 suspects

Big Island police are asking the public's help in finding three wanted men. They are:

» Barry Kashiwabara, 51, who is wanted on a six-count grand jury indictment for methamphetamine trafficking and other alleged drug offenses. He is described as 5-foot-8, about 180 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

» Mark Wirth, who is wanted for allegedly violating probation in a heroin case. He is described as 6-feet tall, about 150 pounds, with hazel eyes and blond hair.

» Sundown Scrigna, who is wanted in the investigation of an alleged court order violation and making a harassing phone call. Scrigna was last seen in the Pahoa area of the Puna District. He is described as 6-foot-2, about 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information about the wanted or missing persons to call the Police Department's nonemergency line at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo and 329-8181 in Kona.

Search fruitless for missing surfer

Kauai fire rescue personnel were expected to resume their search this morning for a missing surfer off Anahola.

The Coast Guard, lifeguards and firefighters were searching for a 34-year-old Moloaa man who disappeared about 1:41 p.m. yesterday while surfing in an area commonly known as “;Crack 14”; near Kuna Bay.

Witnesses said the man lost his board and was attempting to make his way back to shore, but was not seen since then.

Lifeguards searched the water on a Jet Ski. Three rescue specialists searched by helicopter. Firefighters and a lifeguard on an ATV conducted a ground search for the missing man, according to a Kauai County spokeswoman.

The Coast Guard also conducted water and aerial searches, and continued searching last night.

HONOLULU

Accused pimp charged in kidnap

Authorities charged a 27-year-old Kapalama man who allegedly threatened a 24-year-old woman and coerced her into prostitution.

Joseph Faauga Vaimili, 27, was charged Thursday with two counts of kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree promotion of prostitution and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Vaimili's bail was set at $250,000.

The woman was found at a Honolulu massage parlor during a human trafficking investigation conducted by city state and federal law enforcement.

The woman told officers Vaimili was her pimp and he allegedly coerced her into prostitution during the period of Feb. 18 and March 3, and allegedly used a firearm to threaten her, police said.

  HPD Investigates Butigroove Arson Fire

 

Honolulu Fire Investigators claim fire was intentionally started.

[  Watch  ]

 

Clothing store fire classified as arson

Honolulu Fire Department investigators determined that a fire in a small clothing store near Ala Moana Center early yesterday was intentionally set, said department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig.

The fire at Buti Groove, 500 Piikoi St., was reported at 1:19 a.m.

Six fire companies had the fire extinguished by 1:39 a.m., Seelig said.

Buti Groove is one of three businesses in a concrete building at Piikoi and Kona streets.

The fire caused an estimated $75,000 in damage to the contents of the store and $20,000 in damage to the structure, Seelig said.