Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged a male juvenile from Discovery Harbour in connection with a brush fire that burned approximately 10 acres in the Discovery Harbour subdivision in Ka‘ū.
 
On July 6, members of the Hawai‘i County Fire Department and Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a report of a heavy brush fire that started under suspicious circumstances near the intersection of Kahiki Street and Wakea Avenue. As firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which burned vacant land brush and came within 100 feet of a residence on Lewalani Street, police began investigating the cause of the fire.

In the course of their investigation, police learned that a firework may have been thrown into the brush off of Kahiki Street causing the fire. During a subsequent search of the area, they discovered a burnt firework in proximity to where the fire was reported to have started. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire and efforts from HFD personnel prevented damage to the residence and other structures.

Further discoveries led investigators to believe a juvenile male from Discovery Harbour may have been responsible for causing the fire.  His parent brought him to the Ka‘ū police station where he was booked for arson in the fourth degree and a firework violation.  The case was forwarded to Family Court for further proceedings.
 
Police ask that anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 Ext. 267 or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov.