Big Island police have identified a 26-year-old man who died Sunday in a crash in North Kohala as Kauhi L. Simao of Waikoloa.

Police were called to the crash scene at 4:14 a.m. and determined Simao was driving a 1997 Dodge pickup truck east on Akoni Pule Highway when the truck crossed the center line near the 24-mile marker, went over an embankment and dropped about 50 feet into a gulch.

Simao was taken to North Kohala Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:10 a.m.

His death was the 25th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared with 22 at this time last year.

MISSING INMATE FOUND PASSED OUT

A 28-year-old jail inmate who allegedly walked away from a community-based drug treatment program in Hilo on Aug. 7 was re-arrested Sunday after police found him unconscious in a car in Kona.

Wren Kealoha Evans allegedly failed to return to jail after he was released from the Hawai'i Community Correctional Center to attend a drug treatment program on Waianuenue Avenue.

Evans was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail for his arrest in January in connection with forgery, theft and identity-theft charges as well as traffic offenses in connection with "many" incidents where he allegedly fled from police in a vehicle, police said.

Police and paramedics were called to the parking lot of an apartment building on Ali'i Drive at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, where they found a man passed out in a black Chevrolet sedan.

Officers determined the man passed out in the car might be Evans, who is also known as Wren Beaumont. Officers cleared the area and surrounded the car before arresting Evans without incident.

Evans was charged with contempt of court and was being held at the Hilo police cellblock pending further investigation.

RECYCLING DRIVE AT KOKO HEAD

The Friends of Koko Head Elementary School are conducting a HI 5¢ recycling drive Friday from 7 to 10 a.m. at the school at 189 Lunalilo Home Road.

Money raised will be used to help fund the school's physical education teacher position, a cultural event for the students, and for computers.

Volunteers are needed to help unload and sort donations. This is the first of six recycling drives the school is planning for the 2006-07 school year.

For more information, visit www.myhawaiikai.com/web/friendsofkokoheadelementaryschool/calendar.html.

PEDESTRIAN DIES FROM HER INJURIES

A 47-year-old woman pedestrian injured Saturday in Makiki died Sunday at The Queen's Medical Center.

The medical examiner's office identified the woman as Jadelin Nakamura.

Police vehicular homicide Sgt. John Agno said the pedestrian, while in a crosswalk, was run over by a 2002 Nissan Sentra, which was turning left onto Kina'u Street on a green light at 7:36 p.m. Saturday.

Nakamura suffered multiple body injuries and was transported to Queen's in serious condition. She died at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The death is O'ahu's 63rd traffic fatality of the year, 10 more than on the same date in 2005.

QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES ON AGENDA

State Rep. Lyla Berg, D-18th (Kahala, 'Aina Haina, Kuli'ou'ou), will host a public forum for East Honolulu residents to discuss quality-of-life issues from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Kahala Elementary School cafeteria.

University of Hawai'i-Manoa Chancellor Denise Konan; Eric Gill, secretary-treasurer of Local 5, the Hotel Workers Union; and Mike Fitzgerald, president of Enterprise Honolulu, will be the keynote speakers.

For more information, contact Berg at 586-6510.

POLITICAL CALENDAR

PUBLIC INVITED TO CASE 'TALK STORIES'

U.S. Rep. Ed Case will hold seven "talk story" events with voters on O'ahu over the next several days. Case will take questions from the audience.

The sessions are scheduled for 6 p.m. tomorrow at Kalakaua Middle School cafeteria; 6 p.m. Monday at Waimalu Elementary School cafeteria; 7:30 p.m. Monday at 'Ewa Beach Public Library; 6 p.m. Tuesday at the McKinley High School cafeteria; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Liholiho Elementary School cafeteria; 6 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Kalani High School cafeteria; and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Kaiser High School band room.

'PROMOTE THE VOTE' EFFORT SET

Comedian Andy Bumatai and the Gregg Hammer Band will appear tomorrow night at "Promote the Vote," a voter registration event at the O Lounge at 1349 Kapi'olani Blvd.