Farmer hospitalized after fire guts home

A 37-year-old Wai­alua farmer was taken to a hospital burn center in serious condition after he was injured in a fire Monday that destroyed his home and a storage shed, an Emergency Medical Services official said.

The fire was reported at 10:55 a.m. on Puu­iki Street in Wai­alua and was brought under control by 11:20 a.m.

Capt. Terry Seelig, Hono­lulu Fire Department spokes­man, said the fire destroyed a 35-foot trailer that had been converted into a home, a storage shed and an inoperable vehicle. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Firefighters rescued a puppy from one of the structures. No fruits or vegetables grown on the farm were destroyed, Seelig said.

Man, 18, is held in kidnapping attempt

Police arrested an 18-year-old Hono­lulu man in connection with an attempted kidnapping of a woman Monday morning at Ala Moana Center.

A woman, 29, reported that she was followed by a man while walking to her vehicle at about 7:30 a.m., police said. After a brief verbal confrontation, the woman continued on to her vehicle and was grabbed from behind by the man, who tried to strangle her, police said.

The woman was able to fight off the man, who fled, police said. A short time later the suspect was stopped for jaywalking on Kee­au­moku Street by a patrol officer, who learned during a check that the man was suspected of an attempted kidnapping.