Sirens to sound

The city will test emergency warning sirens today between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Maili near Kaukama Road, Crestview Community Park, Waimalu Elementary School and Pali Highway near Waokanaka Street. People in those areas may hear several 20-second siren soundings during that period. 

Grand jury indicts 4 in killing

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging four men connected with an illegal gambling house in downtown Honolulu with murder in the beating death of a gambling house employee.

The indictment charges Maauga Imoa, 24, Alexander Nguyen, 31, Manu Tonga, 21, and Sione Vulangi, 26, each with second-degree murder in the April 2 death of 42-year-old Duc Pham.

All four defendants participated in the beating of Pham for allegedly stealing money from the gambling house, said Vickie Kapp, deputy prosecutor. They remain in custody.

Bail for each is $1 million.

Police said Imoa, Tonga and Vulangi admitted beating Pham but pointed to Nguyen as the one who delivered the most serious blows. Imoa and Tonga later took an unresponsive Pham to the Queen’s Medical Center, where a doctor pronounced him dead.

Shopping centers take donated food

Various locations throughout Oahu will be accepting food and monetary donations Saturday for the Hawaii Foodbank’s 22nd Annual Food Drive.

The drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accept donations of canned meats, meals (spaghetti, chili and corned beef), soups, fruits and vegetables.

Food and monetary donations can be dropped off at: 

>> Waterfront Plaza

>> Koko Marina Center

>> McCully Shopping Center

>> Pearl City Gateway

>> Pearl City Shopping Center

>> Pearl Highlands Center

>> Tamura Superette

>> Town Center of Mililani

>> Waianae Mall Shopping Center

>> Waianae Store

>> Waiokeola Congregational Church, Kahala

>> Windward City Shopping Center

On Kauai, donations can be dropped off at Walmart from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The nonprofit organization is also looking for more than 1,000 volunteers to help collect donations. To download an application or for more information, go to www.hawaiifoodbank.org.

Driver killed as truck runs off Belt Road

The driver of a pickup truck was killed after his vehicle ran off the road Tuesday night near Ocean View, Hawaii County firefighters said.

Police identified the driver as Stephen Mellor, 60, of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates in Kau. He was pronounced dead at 12:21 a.m. yesterday at Kona Community Hospital.

The crash happened on Highway 11 near mile marker 90.5 at about 7:49 p.m.

Arriving firefighters found Mellor partially ejected from the overturned 1985 Toyota pickup. The truck was perched on rocks and brush about 20 feet off the road. Firefighters said the vehicle was unstable and secured it with ropes before reaching the man and determining he had died.

Police say the truck was traveling south on the Hawaii Belt Road when Mellor lost control. He was not wearing a seat belt. Police have ordered an autopsy.

Texas man dies after snorkeling

Hawaii County authorities have ordered an autopsy for   a cruise ship passenger who lost consciousness yesterday while snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach Park in Kona.

Kenneth Clem, 65, of Humble, Texas, was snorkeling with his wife and friends when a lifeguard noticed he was face-down and not moving,  police said. The lifeguard pulled him from the water and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation until fire rescue personnel arrived and continued efforts to revive him.

Clem was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before noon.