Escaped inmate on Big Isle could be armed

Hawaii County police are searching for an escaped inmate, considered armed and dangerous, in connection with a shooting in the Honolii area Jan. 31.

Police want to question Scottie Yanagawa but did not name him as a suspect.

Yanagawa escaped from the Hale Nani correctional facility Nov. 19, police said.

He is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 225 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He may be clean-shaven.

Police responded to reports of gunshots in the Honolii lookout area at about 4:35 a.m. Jan. 31. At the same time, a 31-year-old Kona man with gunshot wounds was taken by private vehicle to a hospital. He underwent surgery, was transferred to an Oahu hospital in guarded condition and is recovering, police said.

Man dies after jumping off Kona cliff

A man died Monday after being swept off the rocks at a dangerous cliff-jumping area called “End of the World” in Kona at about 11:37 a.m., the Hawaii Fire Department said.

A bystander said the 36-year-old visitor jumped off the cliff area. The man came to the surface and tried to climb up the rocks when large waves swept him off the rocks twice, the Fire Department said in a news release.

Fire and rescue personnel along with the Coast Guard searched the area.

Rescue divers retrieved the man’s body at about 4:20 p.m., when it was brought to shore.