Waianae home destroyed by fire; another damaged

One home was destroyed and another damaged in separate fires in the Waianae area Friday night and early yesterday, but no one was injured.

The home that was destroyed was at 85-574 Plantation Road, Fire Capt. Robert Main said. Three adults and four children in the house escaped the 3:46 a.m. fire without injury, but damage to the home was estimated at $550,000.

Waianae police said the family was awakened by what sounded like an explosion in the garage area. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Firefighters had the blaze under control by 4:30 a.m., Main said. The Red Cross is assisting the family, he said.

The other fire was extinguished in about 25 minutes, Main said. The fire was reported at about 11:40 p.m. Friday in the bedroom of a home at 89-050 Farrington Highway.

Damages were estimated at $8,000 to the structure and $1,000 to contents, he said. Investigators determined the cause was a discarded cigarette.

He said the home was occupied by an unknown number of adults and children who refused Red Cross assistance and went to another family member's house.

Bank fire investigation becomes criminal matter

Firefighters believe arson was the cause of a bank fire yesterday in Waipahu.

The blaze started at 1:58 p.m. at Central Pacific Bank, 94-210 Pupukahi St., and was brought under control soon after firefighters arrived, said Honolulu Fire Capt. Robert Main.

Damage to the structure was estimated at $2,000. The branch was closed yesterday.

Fire investigators determined the fire was intentionally set and turned the case over to police.

Man apparently drowns at Magic Island

A man in his 20s apparently drowned yesterday at Magic Island.

Emergency personnel responded to a 7:26 a.m. call and pronounced the man dead at 7:47 a.m., said Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic.

An autopsy will be performed tomorrow, the Medical Examiner's office said.

Woman allegedly cuts her husband in fit of jealousy

Police arrested yesterday a 41-year-old Hawaii Kai woman who allegedly cut her estranged husband's arm while in a rage about seeing another woman in the house.

Police said that at about 6 a.m., the wife returned to the home she shares with her estranged husband and saw the other woman.

The upset woman then broke a louver and injured her 46-year-old husband's arm, said police.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of first-degree criminal property damage.

Routine traffic stop leads to mo-ped driver's arrest

Police arrested a man in Waianae early Friday night after a routine traffic stop led to the retrieval of an allegedly stolen mo-ped, police said.

Police said officers pulled over a 38-year-old Waianae man at 6 p.m. and discovered that the mo-ped he was driving had been stolen in Mililani last week Saturday.