Maui firefighters found a 95-year-old man dead inside a burning Wailuku house Thursday afternoon.
When firefighters arrived at the two-story home on Naniluna Place, a woman who escaped the fire told them that one resident was still inside, Maui Fire Department Fire Services Officer Ed Taomoto said.
Firefighters knocked down the flames, entered the still-smoldering house and found the man inside.
Six units and a battalion chief responded to the 4:41 p.m. alarm. The first company arrived at 4:45 p.m., and the fire was brought under control at 6:19 p.m.
Missing temple bell recovered from tree
A nearly century-old bronze Buddhist temple bell, stolen from Papaaloa Hongwanji Mission on Hawaii island Oct. 21, was found Thursday.
A man who pulled off the side of Old Onomea Road spotted the cast bronze bell sitting near a hala tree “nestled” in a brown plastic tarp, said the temple’s secretary, Rose Broughton. Under the bell was a flier for the missing bell carefully placed in a Ziploc bag. She said she believes the bell was placed somewhere it would be safe and would likely be found.
Broughton said the members are grateful that it’s back, she said. Police detectives took the bell, she said.
Search for missing diver is suspended
The Coast Guard and Hawaii Fire Department have suspended the search for a missing free diver who was swept out to sea Sunday while diving near Kapoho Bay on the Big Island.
The Coast Guard suspended its search late Wednesday — and the Fire Department on Thursday — for 33-year-old Amber Savant of Kona.
Crews had recovered a spear gun, fins, gloves, snorkel, mask, weight belt with knife and five pounds of dive weights from Kapoho Bay during the searches. All were identified as belonging to Savant.
Savant was spear-fishing with two friends Sunday afternoon when the rip current pulled her out to deeper water near the outer reef.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Murder suspect will go to trial early next year
A state circuit judge on Kauai has scheduled a Feb. 1 jury trial for a 37-year-old man charged with murder.
Francisco Manuel pleaded not guilty Thursday before Judge Randal Valenciano to second-degree murder and second-degree assault in the death of Gary A. Allianic Jr., 38.
Manuel allegedly stabbed Allianic with a small folding knife several times Sept. 26. Allianic died at the scene from his injuries.
The two men allegedly fought after Allianic learned his ex-girlfriend was pregnant with Manuel’s baby.
Manuel is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Police resubmit Hilo killing case to prosecutor
Hawaii County police detectives said Wednesday they have completed their investigation into the death of 38-year-old Lloyd Rubio of Hilo, and have resubmitted the case to the prosecutor’s office for review.
Rubio was the proprietor of Big Island Construction.
Officers found Rubio with a stab wound at 5:19 a.m. Jan. 7, 2013, at a home on Kaumana Drive. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he died at 7:11 a.m. Later that night, police arrested his 37-year-old girlfriend on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Police said at the time that the girlfriend had been in the house with his children at the time of the stabbing.
Two days later, after conferring with prosecutors, detectives released the woman from police custody pending further investigation.
