Kahului man drowns picking opihi

A 46-year-old Kahului man who apparently was trying to pick opihi was found Thursday floating facedown in waters off Hana, Maui firefighters said.

The man was last seen around 11 a.m. Thursday and was overheard saying that he was going to pick opihi, firefighters said. A tourist who later saw the man yelling and waving his arms ran to the nearest home to call for help.

Ten minutes later the victim was found floating facedown, firefighters said.

Emergency responders arrived at 1:51 p.m. and found the man about 50 feet from shore. The Maui Fire Department’s Air-1 helicopter brought the man to Nahiku Landing at 2:30 p.m. where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bicycle rider named in crash on Hawaii island

Hawaii island police identified a 61-year-old Kailua-Kona man as the bicycle rider who died after colliding with a pickup truck Thursday in North Kona.

James Sakai crashed into a 2008 Dodge pickup truck around 3:50 p.m. in Keahole at the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Keahole Airport Road, police said.

Police said Sakai was riding south on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when he collided with the truck driven by a 41-year-old Kapaau man, who was driving west on Keahole Airport Road after making a left turn from Queen Kaahumanu Highway.

Sakai was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:04 p.m., police said.

The crash was the Big Island’s 28th traffic fatality this year, compared with 25 at the same time last year.

Police ask anyone who saw the collision or has information about it to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4646, ext. 229. Those who want to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.

Playground closing for repairs

The Shipman Park playground in Keaau will be closed for five months beginning Wednesday for resurfacing and repairs.

The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation said the rubber surface will be replaced with turf, and the equipment will be fixed up. The work should be finished by March 1.

The pavilion, soccer fields and outdoor courts will remain open, the county said.