Missing scuba diver's body recovered

The body of an unidentified scuba diver reported missing Monday was recovered later that evening by Hawaii County fire personnel in waters off South Point.

The man, about 50 years old, was seen in the ocean at Ka Lae Point about two hours before he was reported missing, Kau Fire Station officials reported.

Personnel searched the coastline while a helicopter did an aerial search and spotted the victim's dive flag about 20 feet offshore in about 30 feet of water. Rescue personnel recovered the lifeless diver, according to the report.

Blaze destroys Kailua-Kona home

Fire destroyed a single-family home in Kailua-Kona early yesterday, according to the Hawaii County Fire Department.

The fire at 76-6230 Plumeria Road was reported at 4:06 a.m. The home was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived, according to a news release.

The lone occupant was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, the news release said.

Damage was estimated at $140,000. The cause has not been determined.

Waianae traffic accident turns violent

A traffic accident turned into a case of road rage that led to the arrests of a 16-year-old girl and a 26-year-old woman Monday morning in Waianae, police said.

The two women got into a traffic accident at about 8:50 a.m., and the teenager got out of her car and allegedly assaulted the mother of the 26-year-old woman and damaged her vehicle, police said.

The 26-year-old then allegedly drove her car into the teenager's leg.

Police arrested both women — the 26-year-old for assault and the 16-year-old for assault and criminal property damage.

Police search for armed robber

Big Island police detectives were investigating an armed robbery of two men in a parking lot in Volcano.

Police said the men were sitting in a pickup truck in the Cooper Center just before 9 p.m. Nov. 9 when a lone man pointed a handgun at the driver, ordered both men out of the truck and told them to lie face down on the pavement.

The man, who took the truck, personal belongings and an undetermined amount of cash, was last seen heading east on Wright Road, police said.

The pickup is described as a blue 2001 Ford F-250, with a large white fiberglass fish box in its bed and license plate number HBF 152.

Police said the suspect, who used what appeared to be a T-shirt to cover his face, is described as about 6 feet tall with a husky build.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2255, the Keaau police station at 966-5835 or the Police Department's nonemergency line at 935-3311.