NEIGHBOR ISLES

Big Isle waves kill 55-year-old man

Strong currents and high surf swept six people out into the ocean yesterday, killing a 51-year-old man, Big Island officials said.

Firefighters responded to a call at about 12:50 p.m. and found six swimmers some 150 yards off Kehena Beach in Kalapana, a fire news release said.

Firefighters closed off Highway 137 to set up a landing zone for two rescue helicopters. Helicopters lifted five of the swimmers back to shore without injuries.

The victim was found floating face down and pronounced dead at the scene.

NORTH SHORE

 

  Fourth Fatality Of The New Year

 

  That's double the number of fatalities compared to the same time last year. 

[  Watch  ]

 

Crash into car kills homeless bicyclist

A 50-year-old homeless man bicycling on the North Shore died Saturday after a head-on crash with a Buick sedan.

The man was riding his bike toward Laie in oncoming traffic when a 1990 Buick Century, driven by a 63-year-old man, ran into him near Kaunala Street at 6:58 p.m., police said.

The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and was thrown from his mountain bike, police said.

He died at the Queen's Medical Center at about 9:30 p.m.

It was Oahu's fourth traffic fatality for 2009, compared with two at this time last year.

WINDWARD OAHU

Man reports being attacked, robbed

Police have opened a second-degree robbery case after a 58-year-old man was attacked on Kapaa Quarry Road in Kailua.

Police said the man was drinking by himself at about 10 p.m. Saturday when two carloads of people joined him.

The man reported he was hit on the head and that when he regained consciousness, his wallet was missing, police said.

The man did not have information on the suspects.

HONOLULU

Man, 40, suspected in assault on girls

Police arrested a 40-year-old Pawaa man who allegedly sexually assaulted two girls at an Ala Moana commercial establishment on Friday.

At about 5:45 p.m. the girls, 12 and 15, told police that they had just met the man before he assaulted them.

Police arrested the man that night in Waikiki on suspicion of two counts each of third-degree sexual assault and fourth-degree sexual assault. Police did not name the business.

Girlfriend's injuries spur man's arrest

A 25-year-old McCully man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of beating his girlfriend last month.

Police said the man lived with the woman at the time and repeatedly punched her in the face at about 10:30 p.m. Dec. 17, following an argument. The woman had serious facial injuries and was treated at a hospital.

Police booked the man at his Pumehana Street home on suspicion of first-degree assault.

Man, 19, allegedly kidnaps girlfriend

A 19-year-old Waianae man was arrested Saturday night after allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend and trying to prevent her escape from a car.

Police said the man got into an argument with his 19-year-old girlfriend in Waipahu and forced her into his car.

She tried to escape when he stopped at the intersection of Nimitz Highway and Aolele Street near the airport, police said, but the man held onto her, then lost control of the car, which rolled and rear-ended another vehicle.

He was arrested around 8:20 p.m. on suspicion of kidnapping, abuse and operating a car without authorization.