Firefighters are investigating the cause of an early morning blaze that did an estimated $50,000 damage to a Waiakea Uka home in Hilo yesterday.

The fire at 1312 S. Kumuwaina St. was reported at 12:29 a.m., and burned the entry area of the 2,500-square-foot single-family home belonging to Clarence and Iris Kim, fire officials said.

The fire was extinguished by 1 a.m., and there were no injuries.

SPAIN 'LOTTERY' IS MAIL SCAM

Hawai'i County police are warning residents about a letter scam that claims the recipient has won a lottery in Spain.

A Papaikou woman received documents claiming to be from the "El Tital Lottery Board S.L.," Big Island police Capt. Chad Fukui said.

The woman was informed she had won $888,248, and was told to fill out a so-called "payment processing form" that sought personal information, including bank-account data.

"It's totally bogus," Fukui said.

The scam is part of a growing trend to try to obtain personal information so the criminal can clean out a victim's bank account, he said.

"It's known that they try to target elderly citizens," Fukui said.

He warned residents not to give personal information to someone they don't know, especially by phone, mail or e-mail.

FOOD DRIVE SET FOR SATURDAY

The Hawaii Foodbank's 17th annual Food Drive Day is Saturday. Thousands of volunteers will accept donations of non-perishable food and money at shopping centers and other gathering places.

This year's goals are 550,000 pounds of food and $425,000.

Collection points on O'ahu are Restaurant Row, Koko Marina Center, Town Center of Mililani, McCully Shopping Center, Pearl City Shopping Center, Wai'anae Mall, Windward City Shopping Center and Waiokeola Congregational Church in Kahala. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here are Neighbor Island sites:

Big Island: All fire stations and Wal-Mart in Hilo and Kona, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Maui: All fire stations and Maui Mall, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kaua'i: All fire stations, Ching Young Village, Waipouli Town Center, Wal-Mart, Ishihara Market and Kukui Grove Shopping Center.

In addition, sites accepting donations on a continuing basis include O'ahu fire stations, Ruby Tuesday restaurants and First Hawaiian Bank branches.

The most needed foods, according to the food bank, are canned goods such as meats or tuna, spaghetti, chili, soups, vegetables, fruits and beans.

The Hawaii Foodbank provides food to more than 130,000 people each year.

PUPPET SHOW ON KU'ULA LEGEND

The Mililani Public Library will host "Ku'ula, the God of Fishing," a free puppet show about a Hawaiian legend, April 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Narrated in English by storyteller kupuna Leilehua Omphroy, the show will be presented by 'Ano Lani 'Ano Honua of the University of Hawai'i-Hilo's Institute for Astronomy, Office of Science Education and Public Outreach. Hawaiian words will be explained.

The one-hour program is suitable for all ages, and will be held in the Children's Room.

The Mililani library is at 95-450 Makaimoimo St. For information, call 627-7470.

FUNDS RELEASED FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY

Kapa'a Elementary School's 970 students expect to have their own library — rather than one shared with the adjacent Kapa'a High School — by the time its current first-graders are settling into the fourth grade.

Gov. Linda Lingle has released $250,000 for design of the library, a project expected to cost $3.33 million and be complete in October 2008.

MASKED ROBBER FLEES WITH LOOT

Police were looking for a masked man who robbed the Kapahulu Avenue branch of American Savings Bank yesterday.

At about 3:15 p.m. yesterday, a man walked into the bank, brandished a long-barreled gun that was partially hidden in a nylon bag, and demanded money, police said. After he fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money toward Winam Avenue, a dye pack given to the man exploded.

He was last seen carrying a small white duffel bag, police said.

Anyone with information about this person is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.