Parade to welcome Kauai soldiers

LIHUE » A parade to welcome home Kauai's soldiers fighting overseas will be held March 4, Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste announced last week.

The approximately 125 troops from the Hawaii Army National Guard and the Hawaii Air National Guard who fought overseas are all invited, as well as various dignitaries and any other Kauai soldiers "who have been there and should be honored," Baptiste said.

The parade, which will include high school bands, veterans and military representatives, JROTC and others, will begin at around 10 a.m. on Rice Street fronting the Historic County Building, and end at Vidinha Stadium.

After the parade will be festivities including the blessing of Vidinha Stadium's rubberized track and a welcome home program with entertainment, the mayor said.

Gov. Linda Lingle, Baptiste and Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, head of the Hawaii National Guard, are scheduled to speak. All soldiers will receive certificates and leis.

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Manoa house fire leaves 5 homeless

Five people were left homeless after an early-morning house fire in Manoa yesterday, which caused more than $500,000 in damage.

The fire started about 12:34 a.m. at a two-story wooden home on Hulelani Place. About 35 firefighters responded, bringing the fire under control by 1:06 a.m. It was extinguished at 2:51 a.m.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Kenison Tejada said four people, a couple in their 80s and a couple in their 50s, escaped the fire uninjured. The younger couple's teenage daughter wasn't home at the time of the fire. All five were being assisted by the American Red Cross of Hawaii yesterday.

The fire caused about $400,000 in damage to the home and more than $100,000 in damage to its contents. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Tejada said.

He said the fire was challenging because of a narrow roadway to the home. Also, the nearest fire hydrant was more than 400 feet away.

After crews left, Tejada added, two fire companies had to return to douse a flare-up in the attic.

4-year-old safe after riding bus by herself

A 4-year-old girl wandered away from her mother and hopped a bus from Kapolei to downtown Honolulu yesterday, spurring a frantic police and volunteer search of the Kapolei Shopping Center.

The girl was found safe about 4 p.m. at the city bus depot on South Street. She was picked up by her parents about an hour later.

Police said the girl and her mother had been at the shopping center to watch a movie. At some point, the girl wandered away and got on a city bus to town. Police searched the shopping center for hours, while volunteers passed out fliers.

When the girl was dropped off at the downtown bus stop, a good Samaritan called police. They responded and called her parents.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Driver is sought in hit-and-run accident

Big Island police are asking for the public's help in finding a hit-and-run driver in an accident on Jan. 29 that injured a 40-year-old Utah man.

Witnesses told police a white Honda sedan with a large rear spoiler struck the man as he crossed a parking lot at the James Kealoha Beach Park about 4:30 a.m.

He remains under a doctor's care at home in Orem, Utah, police said.

Anyone with information can call Detective Tom Poy at 961-2383 or 935-3311. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Woman arrested after fatal collision

Police arrested a 46-year-old Big Island woman for negligent homicide, driving under the influence and failing to yield the right of way after she struck and killed a 41-year-old motorcycle driver Thursday.

The motorcycle driver was identified as Jack M. Napeahi Jr., of Volcano.

The crash happened about 9:06 p.m. at the intersection of Hawaii Belt Road and Lehuanani Road in Puna.

The woman, of Volcano, was driving a 2003 Honda sedan north on Hawaii Belt Road when she began turning left onto Lehuanani Road.

Police said she failed to yield to the motorcycle, which was traveling south on Hawaii Belt Road.

Napeahi, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10 p.m. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

The driver of the Honda was released pending further investigation.

This is the sixth traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared to six at the same time in 2005.

Big Isle brush fire under investigation

Fire investigators are still looking into the cause of a Big Island brush fire that threatened a Kailua-Kona apartment building and several homes Friday.

The fire started in a vacant lot near the Henry Street building and homes about 1 p.m. Friday and burned two acres of brush, creeping dangerously close before the fire was extinguished at 5:30 p.m.

Firefighters said residents at the apartment building decided on their own to evacuate.

Some tried to stop the fire's spread with garden hoses. A fire department helicopter assisted about 20 firefighters on the ground to put out the fire.

WAIKIKI

Soldier assaulted in argument over Bush

Police said an argument over President Bush escalated into a fight at a Jack in The Box on Kuhio Avenue early yesterday, which left a 23-year-old soldier with a possible broken nose and injured eye socket.

The assault happened about 3:16 a.m. when two 26-year-olds were standing in line with the 23-year-old, debating Bush's policies.

The victim was taken to the Tripler Army Medical Center, where his condition was not immediately known.

The suspects were arrested for second-degree assault, police said.