Investigators fault stove for blaze

Fire investigators have determined that a stove started a fire May 31 that caused $600,000 worth of damage to a cottage used as an office on the premises of a $5 million Portlock home.

Capt. Terry Seelig, Fire Department spokesman, said Thursday the electrical circuits to a stove in the cottage had been turned off, and the stove top had been used as a storage counter top at 1 Kokee Place.

However, maintenance workers re-energized the circuit to fix a sprinkler system, and the stove was on.

The fire started at 8:53 a.m. May 31. Firefighters used compressed air foam to control the blaze in 10 minutes. One person in the cottage got out without injuries.

Seelig said the cottage had expensive furnishings and was heavily damaged.

Seelig also said fire investigators were not able to determine the cause of another fire earlier that day, which caused $400,000 damage to the three Kalihi businesses — Koele’s Ono Mochi, Ohana Shells and Hula Supply and Car Audio Evolution — at 156 Mokauea St. Three vehicles in back of the building were also damaged.

The fire broke out at 12:40 a.m. in a storeroom behind the hula supply store.

Man is shot at from passing vehicle

Hawaii County police are investigating a case in which six shots were fired Wednesday night from a passing vehicle at a 44-year-old man outside his Aloha Boulevard home in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision.

Police initially classified the case, which was reported about 8 p.m., as reckless endangering. After further investigation, detectives reclassified the case as attempted murder.

Police ask that anyone with information call Detective Sharlotte Bird at 326-4646, ext. 228, or the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.