Tip brings bust of pakalolo operation

Police arrested three people Thursday in connection with a marijuana-growing operation in the Diamond Head area.

The two men and a woman were booked on suspicion of first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Police said officers conducted an investigation after receiving a tip and obtained a search warrant for 3215 Kaunaoa St., where the three live.

Officers served the search warrant at about 7:15 a.m. Thursday and found more than 25 pounds of marijuana, including live plants, some of which were being grown outdoors.

Hikers helped off Palolo, Aiea trails

Honolulu firefighters rescued three people who became lost or tired while hiking Thursday.

A woman reported her teenage son lost on Waiomao Trail in Palolo at 8:04 p.m. after he became separated from a hiking partner, said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig. The teen apparently was disoriented and ended up on the wrong side of the stream.

A fire helicopter was able to spot him in good condition, waving a towel at 9:06 p.m. Firefighters hiked to his location, about a mile from the trail head, to escort him out, Seelig said.

At about the same time, a man and a woman hiking on Aiea Loop Trail called for help at 8:08 p.m. after becoming too tired to hike out, Seelig said.

Firefighters reached the pair, who are in their late 50s or early 60s, about two miles from the trail head at about 8:45 p.m. and led the hikers out.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Crash kills driver, hurts his passenger

A 48-year-old Kihei man died after he was ejected from his vehicle in a one-car crash Thursday night on Piilani Highway, Maui police said.

Robert V. Pimentel Jr., was driving a silver 1998 Toyota 4Runner northwest on Piilani Highway near Uwapo Road when he lost control of the vehicle at 10:43 p.m., police said.

The SUV veered onto the right shoulder, then traveled left over multiple lanes, hit a guardrail and overturned, police said. Pimentel and a 37-year-old Kihei man were ejected from the vehicle.

Pimentel was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger went to Maui Memorial Medical Center in stable condition.

Police said neither man wore a seat belt. Speeding and alcohol were being investigated as factors, police said.

Kitchen fire chars condo in Waiakea

A fire at a Waiakea condominium caused about $25,000 in damage to a fifth-floor unit Thursday night, the Hawaii County Fire Department said.

Firefighters arrived at about 8 p.m. and had the kitchen fire under control within a couple of minutes. The fire at 1911 Kalanianaole Ave. was extinguished at about 8:25 p.m., but its cause was not immediately determined.