Waipahu water main break floods houses

A water main break tonight caused flooding in two houses, and minor water intrusion in others in Waipahu, said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

A 12-inch pipe burst at 94-1115 Nalii St. at about 7 p.m. and affected about eight houses, mostly on Hilihua Way Board of Water Supply and fire officials said.

Fire Department personnel shut off the valve and removed the water from the homes.

Seelig said the two houses had 1 to 6 inches of water, and others had minor amounts of water.

About a dozen homes had water flood into their yards and garages, he said.

Board of Water Supply crews were working tonight to repair the break.

Kitchen fire damages restaurant in Waikiki

An early-morning fire caused $30,000 worth of damage to the kitchen at Denny's restaurant on Kuhio Avenue.

Honolulu Fire Department investigators found the fire was caused when a gas range burner accidentally ignited grease, causing it to extend into the range hood.

Kitchen staff and patrons evacuated the building when firefighters responded to the 4:42 a.m. alarm yesterday at the 24-hour restaurant in the lobby of the Miramar Hotel at 2345 Kuhio Ave.

Two engine companies and one ladder company had the fire under control just before 5 a.m., according to Honolulu Fire Department officials. Portions of Kuhio Avenue in front of the hotel were closed for a brief period.

The restaurant remains closed this morning.

Man allegedly chokes his female roommate

A 35-year-old Waikiki man was arrested for allegedly choking a 34-year-old woman he lives with.

Police said the two were arguing at 4 a.m. yesterday when the man allegedly choked and punched the woman.

As the woman tried to leave the home, the man allegedly placed a broken drinking glass against her neck and threatened to kill her.

The man let her go, and she fled to a neighbor's home and called police.

Police arrived and arrested the man on suspicion of felony abuse of a household member and first-degree terroristic threatening.

Victim killed in crash with loose trailer ID'd

Big Island police have identified a motorist killed in a freak accident earlier this month as 49-year-old Michael Davison of California.

Police said a trailer carrying three canoes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway Sept. 6 broke loose from the truck that was towing it, crossed the center line at Makala Boulevard and collided with a multipurpose vehicle driven by Davison, sending one canoe through his windshield.

Davison was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he died less than an hour later.

A 36-year-old Lahaina man was driving the 1999 Dodge pickup truck that was towing the trailer, police said.