State briefs for July 4

Dead boa constrictor found on Kauai

LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — A boa constrictor that is illegal to own as a pet in Hawaii has been found dead in a nature preserve in Kauai that is home to endangered native birds.

An intern at the Limahuli Garden and Preserve came across the 5-foot-long dead snake Friday during her morning jog.

Inspectors from the state Department of Agriculture picked it up and took it to Honolulu, where a zoologist at the Bishop Museum will examine it.

State and Limahuli preserve officials said they are concerned that the boa constrictor was found near endangered birds and other native species.

It was not immediately clear how the snake died, according to a Department of Agriculture press release.

People caught in Hawaii with snakes as pets can face fines of up to $200,000 or three years in prison. They have no natural predators in the state and pose a serious threat to its environment.

Boa constrictors are not poisonous and are native to Central and South America. They can grow up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) long and eat small mammals, such as mice and rats.

Hawaii football player seriously injured diving at Waikiki

HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities say a University of Hawaii football player has been seriously injured after diving into waters off Waikiki Beach.

Emergency Medical Services and Ocean Safety spokesman Shayne Enright says 19-year-old Kalepo Naotala was injured on Saturday when he appeared to hit his head while diving off the wall near the Kapahulu Groin.

Enright says Naotala was taken to a hospital in serious condition.

Naotala is a freshman defensive tackle from Virginia. He signed his letter of intent in February 2016, but delayed enrollment at the university until this past January to recover from a knee injury. Naotala participated in the university’s spring training and off-season conditioning program this year.