McCully man is charged with arson

A 30-year-old man who allegedly confessed to starting a fire at his home in McCully was charged yesterday with first-degree arson.

Kevin Yang, who lives at 760 Hauoli St., was being held on $100,00 bail.

Eighteen people were displaced in the fire, which destroyed two of four units in the two-story building and caused $600,000 in damage.

Cause of Makiki house fire unknown

Fire investigators could not determine the cause of a Makiki house fire, the Fire Department said Friday.

The early morning fire started at 5:51 a.m. Monday at a two-story house at 1430 Victoria St.

The fire caused major damage to the house, gutting the first-floor unit and causing substantial damage to the second-floor unit. Seven people were home in the downstairs four-bedroom unit, and two were home in the two-bedroom upstairs unit at the time of the fire.

All nine escaped unharmed after a neighbor alerted them to the fire.

Damage was estimated at $225,000.

Woman injured while rock climbing

Firefighters rescued a 20-year-old woman on the North Shore Saturday afternoon after her rock-climbing partner fell on her.

The woman was on a mountain above Camp Erdman when her climbing partner lost his balance and toppled onto her, said Honolulu Fire Capt. Earle Kealoha.

The woman injured her forehead.

A fire helicopter picked her up and transferred her to paramedics.

Cabdriver is robbed at gunpoint

A taxi driver reported being robbed by a gunman Saturday night.

The driver, 27, said two men in their 20s got into his cab at 10 p.m. asking to be driven to Wahiawa.

When they arrived in Wahiawa, one of the men pulled out a handgun; took the driver's cash, wallet and keys to the car; and fled.

The driver was not hurt, according to the police report.

Search for missing camper called off

Maui police and fire crews have suspended their search for a missing woman who had gone camping in the Birthing Pools area, below the Haiku Community Center.

Laura Vogel was reported missing last Monday by a friend. Her van was found in the Pauwela Lighthouse area with the key in the ignition, police said.

Her wallet and cell phone were missing, friends said.

The Fire Department also assisted in the search Tuesday through Friday by air, land and sea.

While the search has been halted pending new developments, the investigation is continuing, police said.

Friends say Vogel had gone camping at 8:20 p.m. Feb. 21 and was expected at work at 9 a.m. last Monday.