Newswatch

RIMPAC exercise sinks former USS Kilauea

The former USS Kilauea is the latest ship sunk as part of the Rim of the Pacific exercises in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

The ammunition ship commissioned in 1968 went down in water nearly 15,500 feet deep 63 miles off the coast of Kauai on Sunday morning, sunk by an Australian submarine.

Australian Commodore Stuart Mayer, Combined Forces Maritime Component commander for RIMPAC, said, "HMAS Farncomb’s success reminds us yet again of the invaluable role submarines play in modern warfare."

The U.S. Navy says the exercises allow crews to gain proficiency in live firing.

Two other ships were sunk during the exercises this month.

Environmental and cost concerns had prompted the Navy to observe a moratorium on using old ships for target practice.

$12.7M will fund Native Hawaiian homes

The federal government will award Hawaii a $12.7 million grant to provide affordable homes for Native Hawaiians.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds will be administered by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to build affordable homes and provide other housing support for Native Hawaiians.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono says historically the wait for Hawaiian homelands property has been disappointing and frustrating for families.

She says the block grant recognizes the challenges low-income families face in finding affordable places to live.

In 2000 the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant was established under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act.

Murder suspect in police custody

Hawaii island police have opened a murder investigation and arrested a 49-year-old man following the early-morning death of a 30-year-old Honomu man, county officials said.

At about 6:18 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a home on Pua Street after receiving a report of a stabbing.

Responders found a man inside the home with injuries and unresponsive, officials said.

The suspect, also of Honomu, was arrested at the scene and remained in custody at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives continue the second-degree murder investigation.

Gunman turns weapon on self

A 67-year-old Kala­heo man is dead after he reportedly shot at neighbors, then fatally shot himself.

According to Kauai police, the man went to a neighbor’s house on Puu­wai Road late Saturday afternoon and fired multiple shots at a couple who live in the house. He then turned the gun on himself.

Neither of the intended victims was injured.

Another neighbor, 59, who witnessed the incident suffered a heart attack and was taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital. He was transferred early Sunday morning to the Queen’s Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition. No other details were available.

Rising stream strands 9 hikers

Kauai fire rescue personnel rescued nine hikers stranded by a rising stream in Kapahi on Saturday.

According to a Kauai Fire Department release, the hikers were walking along Maka­leha Stream when they became stranded by rapidly rising water.

KFD rescue workers arrived at the scene around 3 p.m. and airlifted the hikers, in five trips, to the trail head at the end of Kahuna Road.