Missing diver off Kailua-Kona dies

A 34-year-old man died Saturday after going diving alone off Kona, Hawaii island firefighters said.

Firefighters were called to Ooma Beach in Kohanaiki, north of Pine Trees surf break, at 3:28 p.m., about an hour and a half after the man was last seen, and began searching the coastline.

An outside agency from Kohanaiki that was assisting in the search by personal watercraft found the man along the coast.

Firefighters retrieved the man by helicopter, and paramedics took him to Kona Community Hospital.

Man who died in Ewa Beach fire identified

Family members identified the 24-year-old man who died in an Ewa Beach fire Saturday as Neil Gibbs.

Neil Porras, Gibbs’ cousin, said Gibbs was an online marketer and left behind his 2-year-old daughter, Milena.

“He loved his family,” Porras said. “It’s just tragic for our family that we lost him. He was too young to go.”

Porras said his brother kicked down Gibbs’ locked bedroom door Saturday morning, but he all could see was flames. He said his family members had to evacuate because the fire was too intense.

Firefighters said the fire started at about 4:40 a.m. Saturday in a two-story home at 91-1050 Pololia St. Firefighters brought the fire under control at 4:58 a.m. and found Gibbs’ body inside the room where the fire started. No other injuries were reported. Firefighters said Sunday that the cause was undetermined. Damage was estimated at $200,000.