Residents of a quiet street in Hawaii Kai were shaken by reports that a burglar started a major fire Monday after breaking into a neighbor’s home.

A woman who lives at the damaged home on Hahaione Street returned Tuesday and was hugged or consoled by neighbors.

"I don’t understand the motive," the woman said before declining to comment further to the Star-Advertiser.

The fire caused about $375,000 in damage to belongings and the three-bedroom structure at 764 Hahaione St. Firefighters said the woman lives there with her teenage son.

A fire investigator determined Tuesday that the fire was intentionally set in a front bedroom, said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig. He could not disclose further details because the case was turned over to police for a criminal investigation.

Police returned to the neighborhood Tuesday, looking for witnesses, and did not have any suspects, said Honolulu police Lt. Daniel Jacso.

"We’re just trying to find anybody who may have witnessed suspicious people around the neighborhood or coming or going towards the house," he said.

He said property had been taken, but he would not describe stolen items because of the ongoing probe. He said detectives were hoping to learn more from the fire investigator’s report, such as whether the fire had more than one point of origin. Investigators also had not determined how many people might have been involved.

Police opened a first-degree burglary case and a first-degree arson case, both felony offenses punishable by 10 and 20 years in prison, respectively.

Eunice Kim, who lives next door to the burned home, was relieved the wind didn’t push the flames to her home.

She learned of the fire when a woman knocked on her door to warn her.

Betty Fujita, who’s lived on Hahaione for about 40 years, recalled a burglary last happening on the street a couple years ago.

"It’s kind of scary," she said. "You never think that it would happen. It’s a very quiet neighborhood."

She said she often leaves her door unlocked when she’s home, just across the street from the damaged home, but would be more careful now.

Jennifer Dyball, another neighbor up the street, kept a dog from the damaged home overnight Tuesday.

"It’s sad for them," she said. "It definitely makes you check, make sure all the doors are locked."

Hawaii News Now video: Hawaii Kai home burglarized, then torched