Kauai man dies in single-car crash

A 21-year-old Hanapepe man died early yesterday in a single-car crash in Koloa, Kauai, according to a Kauai County news release.

The victim was identified as Brian Pacheco.

Police said Pacheco was southbound on Koloa Road near Omao Road about 1:14 a.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line, hit an embankment and a utility pole on the opposite shoulder and bounced back onto the highway on its side.

Pacheco was taken to Wilcox Hospital, where he died, the release said.

Officials said Pacheco was not wearing a seat belt.

This is the third traffic fatality on Kauai this year.

2 boys set Schofield playground fire

Police arrested two boys for allegedly setting fire to a playground on Schofield Barracks on Wednesday.

A 10- and 11-year-old were seen playing with fire near the playground and fleeing the area once playground equipment caught fire at 4 p.m., police said. The boys were released pending investigation.

Man charged with Moiliili robberies

Prosecutors charged a Moiliili man with four counts of first-degree robbery in the robberies of several Moiliili businesses, police said.

Justin Correa, 23, was being held on $100,000 bail.

Police arrested Correa for three counts of robbery Tuesday and arrested him two days later for an additional count.

Maui brush fire closes Kula Highway

A brush fire on Maui yesterday burned about 10 to 15 acres and closed Kula Highway from Aapueo Road to Haleakala Highway, according to a county news release.

The fire, which was reported at 2:10 p.m., appears to have started in a field next to King Kekaulike High School and burned to within 200 feet of a home, the county said.

The cause is under investigation.

2 robbers take marijuana plants, cash

Big Island police are searching for two robbers who allegedly took marijuana plants, cash and coins from a Puna home Tuesday.

Two masked men armed with sticks kicked in the front door of the Fern Acres house at 2 p.m. and tied up a 43-year-old man living in the home with duct tape, police said.

The men took cut marijuana buds from five plants and also stole dried marijuana along with money and coins, police said.

The first suspect is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall with a slim build, wearing blue jeans and a white sleeveless T-shirt, and a black T-shirt around his head and face with holes cut out for eyes.

The second suspect is described as 5-feet 10-inches tall, with a medium build, wearing black sweat pants, black tennis shoes, a mossy oak camouflage jacket, and a dark beanie with holes cut out for the eyes covering his face.

The victim was not injured.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lt. Mitchell Kanehailua at 961-2252 or the police nonemergency line at 935-3311.