---

Blaze at Volcanoes park is contained

VOLCANO, Hawaii » A wildfire in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island was almost entirely contained yesterday, officials said.

The fire, which scorched 656 acres, had not spread since Wednesday and was about 80 percent contained, park Ranger Mardie Lane said.

Forty firefighters from Eldorado National Forest in California and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park worked to put out hot spots.

The fire was mistakenly believed to be a new eruption site on Kilauea Volcano when the blaze was initially reported Sunday night.

Forfeited items go on auction tomorrow

A public auction of property forfeited to the state will be held tomorrow at the Neal Blaisdell Center.

Among the items to be auctioned off are a 1997 Honda Del Sol, 1996 Honda Accord, 1993 Honda Accord, 1991 Nissan pickup, 1988 Toyota four-wheel-drive pickup and other vehicles, and stereo equipment, tools, jewelry and other property.

Visit www.rosenauctions. com for a list.

Items may be inspected beginning at 11 a.m., and the auction will begin at noon.

The property being auctioned was seized by law enforcement agencies as forfeited assets used in or acquired by criminal activity.

Proceeds will go to state and county law enforcement agencies to fight crime.

Employees and immediate family members of county police departments, county prosecuting attorneys' offices and the Department of the Attorney General are not eligible to purchase forfeited property.

Free city workshop finds creative solutions

The city will sponsor a workshop tomorrow to discuss "creative thinking" techniques for challenges in business and everyday life.

The workshop, held to celebrate Honolulu's second annual Creativity and Innovation Day, is free and open to the public.

The session's featured speakers include Cynthia Quinn, president of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hawaii; Paula Mantal of Discovery Learning Systems; and Manny Menendez, executive director of the city's economic development office.

The workshop is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the mayor's conference room, 530 S. King St. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m.

For more information or to RSVP, contact coordinator Gui Albieri at 781-9264.

---

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU

Body found in ditch along Kamehameha Highway

A state Department of Transportation road crew worker spotted the body of a 64-year-old man in a drainage canal along Kamehameha Highway yesterday morning.

Police said the road crew was clearing some brush at about 9:56 a.m. when one of the workers found the body on the westbound side of the highway just east of Waimalu Stream.

Police did not identify the victim.

The cause of death is pending an autopsy. There were no immediate signs of foul play, but homicide detectives were investigating the death.

HONOLULU

Pawnshop owner charged with fencing

The owner of A-1 Pawn Shop at 1157 N. King St. has been charged with allegedly buying stolen items from undercover police officers and not filling out pawn tickets for them.

Police arrested Quang Tanh Pham on Tuesday. He was charged yesterday with three counts of attempted second-degree theft for buying stolen items from undercover officers on Dec. 1, Monday and Tuesday.

Pham is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Pawnshops, by law, must keep track of what they buy by having customers fill out a pawn ticket, which includes the seller's personal information and details about the items sold. The ticket also includes a thumbprint of the person who sold the items.

Detectives said the 43-year-old shop owner was the fence for suspects involved in several burglaries across Oahu.

Biker allegedly runs red light and gets hit

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM A bicycle sat on the sidewalk at Nuuanu Avenue and Kukui Street yesterday while a policeman directed traffic around the accident scene. A bicyclist was critically injured yesterday morning after he allegedly ran a red light and was struck by a pickup truck.

A bicyclist was critically injured yesterday morning after he allegedly ran a red light and was struck by a pickup truck in downtown Honolulu.

The bicyclist was riding westbound on North Kukui Street against the red light when he was struck in the intersection of Nuuanu Avenue by the pickup, which was heading southbound on Nuuanu.

Police described the bicyclist as in his 40s to late 50s.

He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition with head injuries and multiple abrasions. His condition was later downgraded to critical, police said.

He was riding a maroon Huffy one-speed bicycle.

The 1989 red Chevrolet pickup was driven by a 50-year-old Kailua man.

WINDWARD OAHU

Tape catches thief's act on video in Kailua

A 16-year-old Kailua boy was arrested for suspicion of first-degree burglary after his neighbor captured his alleged crime on a surveillance video, police said.

The 47-year-old neighbor's Kailua house had been broken into several times in the past months, and he had suspected his neighbor's son, according to police. The victim set up a surveillance camera and left a small coin purse with two $5 bills inside in an open area, police said.

When the man got home yesterday, he saw his neighbor's son nearby and checked the surveillance video and saw the boy searching the house and taking items.

Police said the burglary occurred sometime between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. yesterday.

Police said the boy admitted to entering the house and tried to return the money. The case is pending investigation.