Hilo man killed in collision was speeding, police say

A 28-year-old Hilo man who died in a head-on collision on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in South Kohala was identified yesterday as Kimo K. Elderts, Hawaii County police said.

Elderts was speeding in a Honda sedan when he crossed the center line near the 71-mile marker and slammed into an oncoming 2010 Kia multipurpose vehicle at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Firefighters said Elderts apparently died at the scene. A 21-year-old Kailua-Kona woman who was driving the Kia was flown to the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu in critical condition, while her 28-year-old passenger was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital in serious condition.

Victim in apartment fall identified as Kalihi man, 52

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office identified a 52-year-old man who fell four stories to his death in Kalihi last month as Jorge Nunes.

Police said Nunes appeared to be locked out of his apartment at 955 Akepo Lane and was trying to enter the apartment from the outside of the Kalihi building when he fell on Feb. 10.

He died of multiple internal injuries from the fall, the medical office said yesterday.

Firefighters put out blaze before it reaches houses

Kauai firefighters put out a 1-acre brush fire that threatened several houses in Hanahaulu Saturday.

The fire started at about 10:15 a.m. in a field between King's Chapel and Laukona Street about 50 feet away from the homes, Kauai County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said in a release.

Four families were alerted of a possible evacuation, but firefighters brought the fire under control within 20 minutes and extinguished it by noon. No one was hurt.

Kaimuki man, 28, arrested in assault of 2-year-old girl

A 28-year-old Kaimuki man is in police custody in an investigation of sexual assault of a 2-year-old girl.

Police arrested the man at 5:30 p.m. Saturday near Ala Moana Park after the family of the child reported she was molested by a man who lured her into a restroom. The family was at the park for a party, according to the police report.

The suspect, of a Waialae Avenue address, is also being held on a warrant for probation violation and faces additional drug and contempt charges.