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COURTESY HPD
Christopher K. Paikai
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Honolulu firefighters extinguish a blaze on Brokaw Street in Kaimuki on Sunday. One owner of the home was arrested in connection with the fire.
A $1 million Kaimuki home that was heavily damaged by fire Sunday was in escrow following a bitter divorce by the home’s two owners, a court document says.
The home at 3257 Brokaw St. sustained $610,000 damage after one owner allegedly set fire to the two-story house.
Owner Christopher Paikai, 50, was arrested shortly after the blaze and was charged with first-degree arson. He made his first court appearance today in Honolulu District Court and was being held this evening at Oahu Community Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
According to a court document, a witness saw Paikai kneeling next to his 2018 Subaru WRX sedan in the garage and strike a match, then ignite a fluid on the garage floor. The witness asked Paikai what he was doing and Paikai allegedly responded, “it’s my —- house,” before walking away from the scene.
A responding officer found Paikai walking near 4th and Kaimuki avenues and, after stopping him, saw a box of matches in a bag that Paikai was carrying, the document says.
Paikai’s ex-wife responded to the fire and told police the home was in escrow for $1,008,000.
Court documents say the home is owned by both Paikai and his ex-wife.
The couple divorced in June.
In January, Paikai’s then-wife obtained an order for protection against him for herself and two dogs, Oliver and Sweetie, for 10 years.
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