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911 ReportHawaii News

Cause of Kalani Valley fire undetermined

Fire investigators have classified the cause of a residential fire at Kalani Valley as undetermined.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said investigators could not determine where the fire started in the home at 1541 Kalaniwai Place due to severe damage from the blaze.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, 14 companies and more than 50 firefighters responded to the fire. They brought it under control by 6:22 p.m. and extinguished it several hours later.

Occupants who were at the residence at the time were able to evacuate. No injuries were reported.

Jenkins said the home was considered a “total loss.” Damage was estimated at $400,000 to the structure and $1.26 million to its contents, which included rare and original artwork.

Five other neighboring homes had varying levels of damage to their roofs from the fire.

Jenkins said the total damage estimate for all affected homes was estimated at more than $2 million to the structures and their contents.

Honokaa man faces assault, cruelty charges

A 35-year-old Honokaa man has been charged in the alleged assault of his 42-year-old girlfriend and the alleged beating and fatal shooting of a dog in Hilo.

Bronson Lee Ganigan made his initial appearance at Circuit Court on Monday after he was charged Saturday with kidnapping, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, two counts of abuse of a family or household member, one count of second-degree assault, first-degree cruelty to animals and carrying a firearm in commission of a separate felony, three counts of second-degree reckless endangering and one count of first-degree reckless endangering.

Ganigan’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for today. He remains in custody in lieu of $34,500 bail.

Police said the woman said a male suspect identified as Ganigan held her against her will from Tuesday until Thursday when she was able to escape and ran about a quarter-mile to a family member’s home, according to a news release from the Hawaii Police Department.

While she was held against her will, the woman told police, she saw Ganigan “in a fit of rage” beat and shoot a dog twice with a firearm, according to a court document.

Anyone with information on the domestic violence and animal cruelty case is asked to call the Police Department’s nonemergency phone number, 935-3311, or Detective Christopher Ragasa of the Juvenile Aid Section at 961-8843.

Tipsters also may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.

Burglary among man’s charges

A 29-year-old man has been charged for allegedly breaking a door at a residence and threatening his ex-girlfriend in Waianae.

Preston Kaaialii was charged Monday with first-degree burglary and first-degree terroristic threatening. His bail was set at $75,000.

At about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, police said, the woman, 22, reported the suspect, later identified as Kaaialii, damaged the front door of her residence to gain entry to the home. He then allegedly threatened her with an unspecified dangerous instrument.

Police arrived shortly afterward and arrested Kaaialii.

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