Fire destroys Kahaluu house, closes Kamehameha Highway

Four people were left homeless Tuesday night after fire destroyed their home and forced firefighters to close Kamehameha Highway for about 90 minutes in Kahaluu. 

The two-alarm fire started at 7:19 p.m. and was brought under control at 7:47 p.m., said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig. 

The fire destroyed the single-story, single-family home in the 49-020 block of Kamehameha Highway, Seelig said.

The two-bedroom home was built of redwood and constructed in the 1950s.

Two adults and two children who live in the home on a slope below the highway weren’t home at the time and would be staying with friends or family, Seelig said. No one was hurt. 

Seelig said firefighters had to attach to a water source across the street, forcing the road closure. The road was reopened for a contraflow once firefighters were able to connect to a fire source about 500 feet down the road.

Darnell Chee, of Hauula, was waiting for about an hour to pass the road block and get home. 

She planned to wait rather than drive around the island. 

"We’re so close," she said. 

"We truly apologize for the inconvenience," Seelig said. 

He said neighbors called in the fire. 

Seelig said the house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Fire officials are continuing an investigation into the cause. Damage was estimated at $300,000.