Police seek info on cockfighting

Hawaii County vice officers are asking the public to provide information about cockfighting events that run from Thanksgiving through the July 4 weekend.

Cockfighting involves attaching razor-sharp gaffs to the legs of roosters, which then are left to fight one or more opponents until all but one are either dead or so savagely wounded they cannot continue, police said.

People who participate are subject to arrest for gambling, cruelty to animals and possession of gambling records.

Police encourage the public to report any information about scheduled fights, their locations or people involved to Detective Chad Taniyama in West Hawaii at 326-4646, ext. 271, or Lt. Burt Shimabukuro at 961-2253.

Land preserve given to trust

WAILUKU » The Moloka‘i Land Trust has received the deed to a 5-mile stretch of remote and environmentally sensitive coastline along the rugged north shore of Molokai.

The more than 1,700-acre parcel known as the Mokio Preserve has endangered ferns, subsistence gathering areas and an extensive tidal pool system.

Molokai Properties — better known as Molokai Ranch — initially offered the land to the trust as a gift in 2008. It took more than four years to complete the transfer.

The Maui News reports the preserve includes numerous ko‘a or fishing shrines intact with offerings. It also has large ancient adze quarries and habitat complexes.

The land has places where birds nest. It’s estimated to be the largest remaining site of an endangered endemic Hawaiian fern.

Park closed after shark bite

Kiholo Bay park and beach will remain closed until noon today after a 15-foot tiger shark bit a surfer on the arm Wednesday afternoon off the Kohala Coast on Hawaii island.

Hawaii County firefighters and Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel will check the area this morning for sharks, DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward said.

A 43-year-old man was surfing on the north end of Kiholo Bay when he was bitten on the forearm, said acting fire Capt. Brian Cushnie of the South Kohala station. He also had a cut to his leg, although it was difficult to tell whether this was related to the shark attack, Cushnie said.

DLNR officials said it was a 15-foot tiger shark, according to fire dispatch information. Cushnie said a bystander said a tiger shark bit the man.

Fire personnel responded to the 5:10 p.m. call.

The man remained conscious, and was taken by ambulance to the North Hawaii Community Hospital. His condition was not available.

Boat may be tsunami debris

KAILUA-KONA » A skiff that was found off Kona on Hawaii island is probably debris from the March 2011 tsunami in Japan, a charter captain says.

The skiff was found Tuesday morning about four miles off Honokohau Harbor.

West Hawaii Today reports that the skiff was upside down in the water.

Charter Capt. Kenny Fogarty says he couldn’t see any writing or markings on the boat, but he says the design is typical of a Japanese vessel.