Canadian drowns on North Shore

A visitor from Canada drowned yesterday afternoon after being swept out to sea in treacherous waters in the North Shore area known as Pine Trees, city officials said.

The woman and two other adult family members had apparently been letting waves wash over their legs when they were swept into the ocean, said Jim Howe, Ocean Safety Division operations chief.

"Bystanders were able to help two of them and get them out of the water," said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

Lifeguards found the women, in her 50s, and brought her to shore unresponsive.

Fire crews arrived at that time, and the woman was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the ambulance arrived. The woman was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, said Howe.

Ocean conditions at Pine Trees, a section of Ke Iki Beach, were "really rough" and "extremely hazardous," said Seelig.

Howe said warning signs were posted at the beach.

1 caught in kidnapping and robbery

Police have arrested one man in connection with the kidnapping and robbery of a man in Haleiwa over the weekend and are still looking for two others.

A Wahiawa man, 26, was being held in connection with the case involving a homeless man, 34, who said he was held against his will and robbed of his vehicle and other belongings Saturday by three men at Haleiwa Beach Park.

Two other suspects are still being sought, police said.

Lava’s show on hiatus at Kilauea

Fountaining and surface lava activity at the Kamoamoa fissure on Kilauea volcano’s east rift zone has stopped, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported yesterday morning.

Lava started to recede after 5 p.m. Wednesday, and spattering stopped by 10:30 p.m., signaling a pause in the eruption, officials said.

At the summit, the lava lake remained deep — estimated at 720 feet — below the rim of the vent within the east wall of Halemaumau Crater.

Geologists estimated Tuesday that more than 2.5 million cubic meters of lava a day was pouring out of Kamoamoa fissure near the Puu Oo crater.

Police make third arrest in robbery

Hawaii County police have arrested a third suspect in connection with the robbery of a 35-year-old Kailua-Kona man on Feb. 23.

The three men reportedly followed the victim off a Hele-On Bus in Kailua-Kona, pushed him to the ground, stole his backpack, which contained hashish, and ran away. The victim’s legs were scratched during the struggle.

Police arrested a 19-year-old Kailua-Kona man on March 2 and another last Friday. Both were released pending further investigation.

Yesterday, police arrested 19-year-old Joshua Kalili of Honaunau and charged him with second-degree robbery. He was being held at the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $25,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.