Burglar apologizes for fatal fire, gets 35-year prison sentence

Michael P. Dahilig apologized in state court Tuesday to the family of a 97-year-old Pearl City woman who died in a fire he started during an attempted burglary.

"I sincerely express how deeply sorry I am for your loss due to my reckless and idiotic actions," Dahilig said.

Betty Hagihara died of smoke inhalation March 30 after Dahilig, 35, of Ewa Beach, tried to break the lock of a storage shed with a torch. The shed caught fire and spread to the home in which Hagi­hara was sleeping.

Circuit Judge Randal Lee sentenced Dahilig to 35 years in prison for manslaughter, burglary, drug and drug paraphernalia possession. He also ordered Dahilig to spend at least 11 years and eight months of the sentence behind bars before he is eligible for parole because he has prior felony convictions.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority can set a higher minimum.

The 35 years is the sentence to which Dahilig agreed when he pleaded guilty in September.

"Mr. Dahilig accepted responsibility for his actions as soon as he became aware of what he had done," said defense lawyer Emmanuel Guerrero.

Hagihara’s granddaughter Ronette Kawa­kami said of Dahilig’s apology, "I have no doubt he’s sorry. I don’t think he imagined somebody would die."

Kawakami said even though Hagi­hara was 97 years old, she was healthy and happy and did not deserve to die on the floor of her bedroom, alone in a burning house that Dahilig set on fire.

"My grandmother was supposed to pass comfortably in a bed surrounded by her family, peacefully slumbering into the next world," Kawa­kami said.

Dahilig has prior burglary, robbery, drug and drug paraphernalia possession convictions.

City Prosecutor Keith Kane­shiro, who personally prosecuted the case, said Dahilig also has a history of drug abuse. He said Hagi­hara died as a consequence of the drug abuse and property crimes plaguing the community.

"Mr. Dahilig has been given a lot of opportunities to straighten out his life. It’s unfortunate he did not fulfill and make use of the opportunities because if that had occurred, we would not have the death of Betty Hagi­hara," Kane­shiro said.

He said Dahilig had been repeatedly burglarizing area homes in the six months leading up to the fire that killed Hagi­hara. One neighbor installed surveillance equipment and recorded Dahilig burglarizing his home.

The day after the fire that killed Hagi­hara, Kane­shiro said Dahilig returned to the home to sift through the charred remains for something to steal. He fled after he spotted a neighbor.