Big Isle police seize $280K in crystal meth

Hawaii island police Thursday intercepted a shipment of crystal meth valued at $280,000.

Police said in a press release that the Area II Vice Section’s Airport Task Force unit recovered 2,800.4 grams, or about six pounds, of suspected crystal methamphetamine from a package headed to Kona.

“The task force officers had located an incoming package to which a narcotics detection canine displayed a positive alert, indicating an odor of a controlled substance was emanating from the package. Officers prepared and executed a search warrant on the package, which led to the recovery of approximately six pounds of suspected crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $280,000,” police said.

No arrests have been made. An investigation is underway.

Information about the illegal importation, distribution and possession of narcotics can be reported to the Vice/Drug Tip Hotlines at 329-0423 for West Hawaii and 934-8423 for East Hawaii, or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.

Cat knocking over lamp sparks house fire

Blame the cat.

That’s what Maui fire officials are doing to explain a fire in a two-story house in Haiku. Shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to the fire at Akahai Place.

Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said a woman placed a lit oil lamp in the ground-floor bathroom before she stepped into the shower. When she got out, she saw the lamp tipped over, with flames all around, he said.

She at first tried to extinguish the fire with her towel, to no avail, then escaped.

Taomoto said a man was taking a shower on the second floor when he heard the fire alarm. When he saw the fire, he immediately grabbed a garden hose and sprayed water on the flames to keep it from spreading.

Fire crews brought the blaze under control at 6:16 p.m. and extinguished it within 10 minutes.

Taomoto said paramedics took the woman to Maui Memorial Medical Center for smoke inhalation.

The Fire Department ruled the fire was accidental: the house cat is believed to have knocked over the lamp. Damage was contained to the bathroom and estimated at $1,000.

Armed man robs Kakaako convenience store

An armed robber held up the Kakaako 7-Eleven early Friday.

At about 4 a.m. a man displayed a gun to a clerk at the convenience store, on the corner of South and Queen streets next to the FedEx Office Print & Ship Center, police said.

Yellow tape stretched across the entrance of the 7-Eleven as police continued their investigation. Additional details were pending.