---

Research ship returns after engine room fire

The research vessel Hi'ialakai returned safely to Honolulu Saturday afternoon, after a fire in the engine control room last Monday cut short a planned 35-day cruise to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Four crew members were treated on board for minor smoke inhalation but were doing well, according to the operations branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

There was no environmental damage from the incident, but the ship needed to return to port for repairs. It was escorted back by a tugboat but moving on its own steam with half its engines, a NOAA spokesman said Saturday.

"The cause of the fire may be a mechanical failure in a circuit breaker, which did not allow the breaker to trip as it was designed to do," Cmdr. Scott Kuester wrote in an e-mail while the ship was on its way to Honolulu. "I have no idea yet what it will cost to repair -- that will come when we are in port and work has started."

The ship had 38 people aboard -- 21 crew members and 17 scientists who were to study coral, fish and other aspects of the natural environment in the remote islands for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve.

Roadwork to close Kalanianaole Highway

Resurfacing work on Kalanianaole Highway between Castle Junction and Kapaa Quarry Road will close one Kailua-bound lane between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

No lane closures are scheduled for today in observance of Labor Day, the state Department of Transportation said.

---

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
Woman dies after being trapped in vent

A 22-year-old woman died after she was trapped in a ventilation exhaust Saturday at Ala Moana Center.

Police said security responded to an alarm that was triggered on the roof directly above the shopping center's food court about 5:33 p.m. The woman, who was on top of the roof, was questioned by security officers when she started jumping up and down.

Police said she then jumped into the ventilation exhaust duct. The woman got trapped in the duct and had to be taken out by firefighters. She was unconscious and unresponsive when she was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Coast Guard rescues 13 at Keehi Lagoon

The Coast Guard rescued 13 people Saturday night after their 37-foot boat ran aground at the entrance of Keehi Lagoon.

There were no injuries.

The Coast Guard's utility boat responded about 8:12 p.m. after it received a distress call that three people were in the water and seven people were still on board the boat named Vioarmy.

Crew members plucked the three people from the water while the other passengers were advised to get in the water and swim to the utility boat due to the shallow water.

Police seek 2 suspects in alleged kidnapping

Police are looking for two men in ski masks who kidnapped a 25-year-old man Friday night and threatened to kill him over a friend's gambling debt.

The man said the suspects had also kidnapped him in April and that he had paid them $10,000. He did not report that incident.

Police said Friday's kidnapping happened about 7:08 p.m. in Kaimuki. The victim told police he was forced into a van and threatened by the men in masks but he later fought them off and got away. Police said at least one witness reported seeing a van in the area being driven by a man wearing a ski mask.

WINDWARD OAHU
52-year-old arrested in alleged sex assault

Police arrested a 52-year-old man after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in Kailua.

Police said the suspect also punched her in the head and back. The victim received medical treatment after she suffered from bruising and complained of pain.

Police arrested the 52-year-old man on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault and abuse of a household member.

LEEWARD OAHU
Baby girl dies after being stuck near crib

A 5-month-old girl died Saturday after she got stuck between a bed and a crib in her Waianae home.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office identified her as Kawena Uila.

Police said the victim was sleeping in her parents' bed about 9:15 a.m. Saturday while her parents were downstairs eating breakfast.

Police said the infant's father went to check on her about 9:50 a.m. when he found her lodged between the bed and the crib. She was not breathing.

Her parents took her to nearby Waianae Fire Station. Firefighters administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation without success.

The infant was taken to Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center where she was pronounced dead at 11 a.m. There were no signs of trauma or injuries, police said.

HFD rescues soldiers stranded on hike

Honolulu firefighters rescued two soldiers near Kolekole Pass in the Waianae Mountains yesterday after they were stranded over the weekend.

Capt. Emmit Kane, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said they received a call at 6:30 a.m. yesterday from the military of two soldiers who notified their spouses that they were stranded Saturday after they started to hike to Mount Kaala.

Kane said the two soldiers were airlifted to Schofield Barracks. There were no reports of any injuries.

Fire crews fight blaze in Kunia through air

Firefighters continued to battle a brush fire in Kunia yesterday that has scorched more than 100 acres since Saturday.

Four engines and four tankers responded to the brush fire located in steep ravines miles away from Kunia Road. A private helicopter and Air One also battled the brush fire yesterday.

Capt. Emmit Kane, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said they were continuing to seek more air support yesterday.

"Air support is pretty much the best way to address this," Kane said, noting that road access is limited.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Brush fire scorches 60 acres on Kauai

About 60 acres were burned in a brush fire yesterday on Kauai.

The fire started about 1:30 p.m. near Ala Kinoiki Road in Koloa, and no homes or structures were threatened. Firefighters from around the island along with area farmers helped put out the blaze, which was under control by about 5:15 p.m.

Fire Battalion Chief Charles Metivier said the fire started in some former coffee fields and was driven by strong winds into neighboring pasture lands.

Last night, firefighters were still working to put out a few hot spots.