LEEWARD OAHU

Power line threat closes highway

Police shut down Farrington Highway in Waipahu for hours yesterday between Leoole and Leokane streets because power lines were in danger of falling down, according to a police traffic advisory.

Police shut down lanes in both directions at about 11:45 a.m. and reopened Honolulu-bound lanes and one Waianae- bound lane about two hours later. The other lane was reopened after repairs were completed.

Electrical power to customers was not affected, said Hawaiian Electric Company spokeswoman Barbara Heckathorn.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Fire causes $250K damage to house

Big Island firefighters are investigating a blaze that caused an estimated $250,000 damage to a Waimea home Friday night.

At about 8:30 p.m., firefighters responded to the blaze on 67-1238 Panalea St. The second floor of the single family residence was engulfed in flames when the first unit arrived.

About 14 firefighters put the blaze out by 10 p.m. Nobody was home at the time. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Wildfire forces 15 to evacuate homes

A brush fire in a eucalyptus forest in Honokaa was brought under control yesterday morning, but not before strong winds pushed the fire toward homes near the Waipio Lookout Friday night, Big Island fire officials said.

About 15 residents who were evacuated to Honkaa Gym Friday night returned to their homes yesterday morning.

The fire was reported at 12:04 p.m. Friday and burned about six acres mauka of Waipio Road.

About 30 firefighters, including forestry workers and volunteer firefighters, worked to control the fire. The fire department halted helicopter water drops for a time due to the heavy winds.

Bulldozers cut a firebreak to contain the fire.

Paddlers rescued from sinking canoe

Six paddlers were rescued in large surf yesterday after their canoe swamped at Anaehoomalu Bay in South Kohala, the Big Island fire department said in a news release.

Fire rescue crews were called at about 8:44 a.m. and the canoe filled with water in the surf zone about 200 yards offshore.

The fire department helicopter rescued five paddlers. The submerged canoe and a steersman were towed in to the Puako boat ramp by a rescue boat.

Man arrested in Red Hill stabbing

Police arrested a 34-year-old man Friday in connection with a stabbing last month in the Red Hill area, police said.

The suspect and the victim, a 33-year-old man, are friends, police said. But at about 11:20 a.m. on Dec. 22, the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in an unprovoked attack.

The suspect was initially arrested that day after a witness identified him, but was later released pending further investigation. Police said the victim was hospitalized in critical condition and when he recovered was able to identify the suspect yesterday.

The victim recovered and was able to identify the suspect Friday. The suspect was arrested again on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder at his Tusitala Street home.