6 paddlers rescued off Diamond Head

Crews from the Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department and city Ocean Safety rescued six paddlers Sunday from a sinking outrigger canoe off of Diamond Head.

The Coast Guard Sector Honolulu received a call from HFD at 11:40 a.m. about paddlers who reported their canoe was taking on water about a mile off Black Point near Diamond Head, according to a Coast Guard news release.

The Coast Guard deployed a 45-foot response boat, and HFD and Ocean Safety lifeguards launched a fireboat, Air 1 helicopter and Jet Ski to assist.

Crews aboard the response boat rescued five paddlers while one paddler stayed with the canoe as Ocean Safety used the Jet Ski to tow it to shore.

No injuries were reported.

Trial set for man accused of robbing 4 visitors

A circuit judge set trial for a 35-year-old convicted felon accused of robbing four visitors in Manoa.

Quadralis J. Watson appeared at Circuit Court before Judge Melanie May via closed-circuit video link from the Oahu Community Correctional Center on Monday after an Oahu grand jury indicted him last week with first-degree robbery and four firearm offenses.

Deputy Public Defender Jacquelyn Esser pleaded not guilty to all the charges on Watson’s behalf.

May rejected a request for a bail reduction to $100,000 from $500,000, noting the risk of recidivism based on his criminal history. Watson’s trial is set for October.

Police said Watson robbed four tourists on Kaloaluiki Street on Aug. 5 while the victims were taking photos of the mountains.

Officers located and arrested him later that day in Waikiki.

In 2011 Watson was convicted in federal court of sex trafficking involving a teenage girl. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

State criminal records show he has a felony conviction for promoting a dangerous drug as well as misdemeanor convictions that include assault and terroristic threatening.

Watson’s criminal history also include petty misdemeanor convictions of prostitution, promoting a detrimental drug, harassment, disorderly conduct and theft.

Firefighters rescue 2 from burning townhouse

Honolulu firefighters early Monday morning rescued two women from the second floor of a burning townhouse in Waipahu.

Firefighters arrived at the Oasis Townhomes at 94-207 Waipahu St. at 12:21 a.m. to find a two-story townhouse building with smoke and flames coming from the bottom of the unit.

Two women, who were alerted to the fire by the commotion, were trapped upstairs in their unit, Honolulu Fire Department officials said.

Firefighters used a ladder to rescue the two women through a window. The two were treated for smoke inhalation and transferred to the care of Emergency Medical Services personnel, officials said. The women, ages 23 and 26, were taken in serious condition to a hospital, EMS said.

HFD said nine units, with 31 personnel, responded and had the fire under control at 12:28 a.m. and extinguished at 12:32 a.m.

Officials said the fire’s cause is under investigation.

They said the unit had a smoke alarm, but it is unknown whether it was working.