Apartment fire on Big Island injures 8

Eight people were transported to Hilo Medical Center on Sunday morning after a fire broke out at the Kauhale Olu Apartments in Pepeekeo.

The Hawaii County Fire Department said all of the affected occupants of the residential apartment complex were confirmed to be out of the building. The eight were treated and transported by EMS to Hilo Medical Center.

The department said the fire, which was caused by unattended cooking, was most severe on the upper floors of the two-story, four-apartment building. The upper floors were “fully involved,” and another apartment building in the complex was threatened.

The department said its crew helped lower-apartment occupants save some personal items.

The initial alarm for the structure fire was around 5:28 a.m. The first unit arrived on the scene at 5:40 a.m.

The building suffered severe fire and water damage. The Red Cross and building representatives were assisting displaced occupants.

Moped rider dies after collision with car

A 56-year-old Honolulu man died after another vehicle struck him while he was riding his moped, police said.

The man was traveling west at about 11:38 p.m. Saturday when he was struck near the intersection of Ward Avenue and Beretania Street by a vehicle operated by a 23-year-old female. The man was ejected from the moped.

At 12:06 a.m. Sunday he was taken in critical condition to an area hospital. He later died at the hospital.

Police said it does not appear that alcohol was a factor in the collision.

This is Oahu’s 31st traffic fatality in 2017 compared with 40 at the same time in 2016.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

Resident is burned as 3 escape house fire

A man was burned when a fire broke out Saturday at a single-family house in Volcano on Hawaii island.

Three engines and two tankers responded at 6:15 p.m. to the fire on Nahelenani Street, the Hawaii County Fire Department said. Two medical units also responded.

The house was fully engulfed when the first units arrived.

Three people were at home at the time and were able to get out safely, but a man was burned trying to put out the fire, the department said. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center in serious condition.

A boy and girl were not injured, but were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Damage was estimated at $80,000. The cause was under investigation, the department said.

6 rescued off Maui from boat in distress

The Coast Guard rescued six people from a 27-foot vessel taking on water off Maui on Saturday.

The Coast Guard Honolulu command center received a report via VHF radio around 1:30 p.m. The captain of the Makalii reported it was taking on water and that the crew was bailing by hand.

The Coast Guard launched a response boat that towed the vessel and its crew to Kihei boat ramp.

“This crew did everything right to be prepared and assist responders,” said Petty Officer 1st Class William Cusic, search and rescue coordinator at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, in a statement.