Man believed drowned at surf spot

A man apparently drowned in waters off the Diamond Head lighthouse yesterday afternoon.

The man may have been snorkeling, said a spokesman for the city Department of Emergency Services. No estimate of the victim’s age was given.

Beachgoers pulled him at about 3:39 p.m. from waters at the surf spot known as "Lighthouse" off Beach Road and tried to revive him.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at 3:57 p.m., the spokesman said.

Downtown bank is struck by robber

Police are asking the public’s help in finding a man who robbed the downtown branch of Territorial Savings Bank yesterday.

The man entered the bank at 1000 Bishop St. at about 2 p.m. and demanded money from a teller, police said. He took cash and ran away.

He was described as 35 to 40 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 220 to 230 pounds. He had short dark hair and was wearing a beige dress shirt, khaki pants, prescription glasses and a white baseball cap.

The man is not believed to be the so-called "backpack bandit" who is wanted for four bank robberies this year.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone. Tips can also be sent by texting "CS808" to 274637 or CRIMES from a cell phone.

Surfer is injured when cut by board

A surfer was in critical condition at the Queen’s Medical Center after he was slashed by the skeg of his surfboard yesterday morning at Sunset Beach.

The surfer, who appeared to be in his 30s, was apparently struck at about 11:06 a.m. while near the shore break, a spokesman for the city Department of Emergency Services said.

Lifeguards and others helped the man from the water and treated him until paramedics arrived.

Paramedics were able to stabilize his vital signs and took him in critical condition to a hospital, the spokesman said.

Waves at Sunset Beach yesterday morning were reported in the 4- to 6-foot range.

NEIGHBOR ISLAND

Bodies found in Hilo home identified

Big Island police yesterday identified two people whose bodies were found Wednesday in a Hilo home, but have not released information on the circumstances of their deaths.

Police said they do not believe foul play was involved. Detectives continue to investigate, police said.

Officials identified the man as Jon P. Gizewski, 44, of Hilo, and the woman as Jackie Lynn Baker, 49, of Hilo. Police did not reveal the nature of the relationship between Gizewski and Baker.

On Wednesday, patrol officers responded to a report of an unresponsive man at a home in the 1200 block of Kilauea Avenue about 11:30 a.m.

Officers found the man in the lower part of the home and found the woman’s body in another part of the residence, police said.

Both were pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center.

Police said autopsies will be performed today to determine cause of death.

SUV strikes pedestrian on Kauai

A 20-year-old Lihue woman was hit by a sport utility vehicle while crossing Kuhio Highway yesterday morning.

Kauai police said the pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk as she crossed from the Lihue Annex toward McDonald’s about 7 a.m. The motorist, a 49-year-old woman from Eleele, was traveling north on Kuhio Highway in a Toyota SUV when she struck the pedestrian.

Police said the pedestrian sustained multiple injuries and was admitted to Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Heavy rainfall, poor lighting and heavy traffic appear to be contributing factors, police said.