Arson suspected in highrise blaze

Firefighters Tuesday night extinguished a highrise fire on University Avenue near Kapiolani Boulevard.

Units from multiple Honolulu Fire Department stations responded to a call of a fire on the 18th floor of a building at Ala Wai Plaza, 500 University Ave., about 9 p.m.

Police said they arrested on suspicion of arson a man who is one of the residents in the unit where the fire occurred.

Initial firefighter calls said the unit in the Park Tower was "fully engulfed." Witnesses from a park across the street reported flames coming from the apartment.

The blaze reportedly was contained by 9:20 p.m.

Family displaced as fire wrecks apartment 

A fire Monday night destroyed a Waipahu apartment, displacing a family of three and causing an estimated $400,000 in damage, fire officials said.

The family was returning home to Jack Hall Waipahu Memorial Housing when they noticed smoke and flames coming from their second-floor unit, fire spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said. People in other units were not injured.

About 35 firefighters responded to the 9:23 p.m. call at 94-853 Kuhaulua St. and were able to bring the fire under control by 10 p.m.

Seelig said the fire destroyed the apartment where it began and caused smoke and water damage to five other units. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Death of man, 75, investigated as neglect

Police are investigating the death of a 75-year-old Leeward man who may have suffered from neglect.

The man had been taken to the hospital earlier this month with injuries, possibly from neglect, police said.

He died at 1:27 a.m. Tuesday.

The case, classified as an unattended death, was turned over to the police homicide detail.

Body of snorkeler found near Napili Point

Maui firefighters discovered the body of a missing snorkeler Tuesday evening off Napili Point.

The snorkeler, a 78-year-old man from Carlsbad, Calif., was last seen going into the ocean at 3 p.m. Tuesday, fire officials said. The man’s family became concerned when he failed to meet them at 4 p.m.

The Fire Department’s rescue helicopter crew spotted the man 75 yards off Napili Point at 6:10 p.m. The Lahaina fire rescue boat retrieved the body, fire officials said.