MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police are asking for the public’s help with information about a fire in January in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision in Keaʻau.

At 4:30 a.m. on January 29, police and firefighters responded to a report of smoke and flames coming from a house under construction on 25th Avenue between Kaloli Drive and Paradise Drive.

Fire personnel extinguished the flames and estimated the damage to the walls and interior area at $25,000.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The case is being investigated as first-degree arson.

Police ask anyone with information about the case or about any suspicious vehicles or persons in the area around the time of the fire to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or joel.field@hawaiicounty.gov

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.