Motorcyclist, 24, is injured after veering off road

A 24-year-old Kailua man was critically injured yesterday morning when his blue-and-white 2003 Suzuki motorcycle he was operating crashed on Kalanianaole Highway.

Police said the motorcyclist was traveling east on the highway when he apparently failed to get around a curve in the roadway, sideswiped a guardrail and lost control of the motorcycle. The man was ejected onto the roadway.

He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. The man was wearing a helmet, police said.

Police said speed may have been a factor in the crash.

Police closed the roadway in both directions yesterday morning between Hanauma Bay and the Lanai Lookout.

Traffic investigators were at the scene of the 6 a.m. crash near the Koko Head shooting range.

Family argument leads to home barricade in Palolo

A 46-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning after he barricaded himself inside his Palolo Valley home with three family members.

Police responded to a call of an argument at 3:41 a.m. at a Waiomao Road home, said Capt. Letha DeCaires of the Honolulu Police Department. The man and a 40-year-old woman were involved in a domestic dispute when two family members, a 21-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, tried to help the woman, police said.

Members of the Specialized Services Division responded. A negotiator made contact with the 46-year-old man, and his family members were released from the home.

At about 8:30 a.m. the suspect surrendered without incident, DeCaires said. Police arrested the 46-year-old man on suspicion of three counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and two counts of abuse of a family member.

The suspect was believed to be armed, and police were searching the house for possible weapons, DeCaires said.

Man allegedly takes items from woman's parked car

Police arrested a 30-year-old man who allegedly broke into a woman's parked car in the Ala Moana area.

At about 6:50 a.m. Sunday the 26-year-old woman parked her car on the road and entered a business, police said. When she returned soon afterward, she noticed her door ajar and a man walking away with her property that was on her car seat.

The man was stopped on Kanunu Street behind Don Quijote, and the woman recovered her items. Police booked the man, who has no local address, on suspicion of breaking into a car.

Ex-boyfriend is accused of choking woman at home

Police arrested a 28-year-old Pacific Palisades man who allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend's Honolulu home and choked her.

At about 1:10 a.m. Friday the woman was sleeping when the man entered her home, police said. The two argued and the man choked her, police said. He fled but was arrested at his Komo Mai Drive home on suspicion of first-degree burglary and abuse.

Hikers get help for dog struggling on ridge trail

Hikers called the Fire Department for help yesterday evening because they had a dog that was having trouble hiking out of a trail on Waahila Ridge.

The Honolulu Fire Department received the call at 7:40 p.m. The hikers said they were not lost on the Puu Pia Trail, which begins at Woodlawn and Alani drives.

The Fire Department was expected to escort the hikers and their dogs out.

Couple gets lost hiking Kuliouou Valley Trail

Fire rescue personnel located a lost couple hiking in Kuliouou Valley yesterday evening. The couple called the Fire Department at 7:57 p.m. to report they were lost while hiking the Kuliouou Valley Trail, said Capt. Terry Seelig.

The Fire Department found the couple at about 8:30 p.m. and planned to either send a helicopter or escort them out.

Maui brush fire burns 6 acres

KULA, Maui » A brush fire near the Kula Agricultural Park north of Pulehu Road burned an estimated six acres yesterday.

The fire was first reported at 12:54 p.m. No injuries were reported and no structures were reported damaged.

Police closed Pulehu Road between Holopuni Road and Kulakula Road shortly before 2 p.m.

Multiple fire crews and Air One responded to the brush fire in an area with gulches.

A Maui County news release said the fire was reported to be diminishing but not yet under control.

The cause is under investigation.