Lagoon Drive area power cut after blasts
Electrical pyrotechnics caused a power outage near the Honolulu Airport on Saturday evening.
Witnesses said they saw four explosions over a two-block span of power lines starting around 7:15 p.m.
But Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Peter Rosegg took issue with that characterization.
"There might have been some pops," he said. "There was not anything we would call an explosion."
Traffic signals at several intersections in the Lagoon Drive area from Nimitz Highway heading makai were without power until about 8:30 p.m.
Additionally, Rosegg said about 250 customers in the airport industrial area were apparently without power, including the outside of the Best Western Plaza Hotel. Electricity was also out to several blocks on the Diamond Head side of Lagoon Drive. Power was restored by 8:50 p.m., he said.
Rosegg said the cause of the outage was a "cable fault."
The incident happened at the makai-Diamond Head, or southeastern, corner of Waiwai Loop and Lagoon Drive, said Capt. Robert Main, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman. According to witnesses, the first explosion caused a transformer box to fall onto the sidewalk fronting a Chevron station. The flaming box appeared to have generated errant reports of the Chevron sign being on fire.
While the sign was unaffected, the box did apparently leave a 5-foot hole in the pavement.
Rescuers round up kayakers in trouble
Honolulu fire and rescue crews helped eight kayakers who got into trouble off Lanikai late Saturday morning.
Two of the kayakers, all of whom appeared to be tourists, overturned their craft in waters off Mokulua Drive about 11:30 a.m., said Capt. Robert Main, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman. Bystanders started to bring the kayakers ashore and firefighters on personal watercraft helped in the operation, Main said.
One kayaker, a juvenile male, was treated by Emergency Medical Services personnel on scene and released, an EMS chief said. A second kayaker refused treatment.
Robber snatches woman’s necklace
A woman was robbed of her necklace at a Keeaumoku area lingerie shop about 1 p.m. Saturday.
Police said the incident occurred at European Lingerie, in the Makaloa Plaza across from the Keeaumoku Walgreens.
The man demanded the necklace from the woman while holding what appeared to be a handgun, police said. He then fled on foot. Police searched, but did not find the suspect. No one was injured.
Suspect sought in Hawaii island burglary
Hawaii County police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect captured on camera in January during a burglary at an Ainaloa subdivision home in Puna.
About 7:30 a.m. Jan. 7, patrol officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at the house on Hanalei Drive.
Three individuals were observed in the area. Police arrested two Pahoa men on suspicion of first-degree burglary. They were later released pending further investigation.
The third man fled on foot. He is described as an adult male possibly in his early 20s with dark brown skin, black hair and a medium to heavy-set build. He was wearing a red shirt, beige shorts, a black cap and slippers. Police recovered a video and still image of the suspect taken as he left the area.
Police ask that anyone with information on his identity contact Detective Robert Almeida by phone at 961-2386 or by email at ralmeida@co.hawaii.hi.us. Tipsters may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
