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Early morning fire guts Kahului business

Blaze causes an estimated $440K worth of damages

Fire investigators examine the truck where the fire is believed to have started before spreading to the nearby building Friday morning. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
70 Lono Avenue owner Ray Acob holds fiancée Nellie Doronio as they watch fire investigators inspect the gutted building Friday morning in Kahului. In the background is family friend Melony Agonoy. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Maui Fire Department investigators inspect the scene of Friday’s early morning fire at 70 Lono Avenue restaurant in Kahului. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
70 Lono Avenue cashier Pauline Piso (left) and family friend Melony Agonoy try to keep their emotions in check while looking toward the ruined building Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Crews work to hose down a fire as flames leap high above a restaurant building in Kahului early Friday morning. — MFD photo
KAHULUI -- Rey Acob had just opened his takeout restaurant in Kahului three weeks ago and felt it was gaining momentum and building a customer base. But an early Friday morning fire halted all of that -- at least temporarily. "It's a sad day because we have been getting community support," Acob said Friday morning as he surveyed the fire at his business, 70 Lono Avenue Takeout and Catering. The site was previously the home of Dairy Queen, with its red roof and white walls, before it became Treats and Sweets and later Plantation Grindz. Acob's business, which he said people started to call "Rey's Place," primarily served a blend of Filipino and Mexican cuisines and was gaining a following. But around 1:15 a.m. Friday, a fire broke out. Crews arrived on the scene to find the structure more than 70 percent involved and worked to knock down and control the fire, fire officials said Friday afternoon. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Estimated damages are $232,000 to the structure and $175,000 to the contents. There was also $33,000 in damages to a vehicle. The fire was brought under control at 2:32 a.m. and extinguished at 4:06 a.m. Engine, rescue and hazmat crews from Kahului responded to the blaze along with an engine from Wailuku. On Friday morning, nearby roadways were still filled with water from crews who fought the blaze, and a smoky smell still lingered in the air. A white pickup truck near the building was also charred. Acob said he was asleep when he got the call about the fire. "Just shock at first, but I know things happen beyond our control," Acob said. "We thank God nobody was hurt. Material things can be replaced." Nearby residents described hearing what they though were firecrackers and some gathered outside the Waterfront Apartments at Kahului across the street to see the blaze in the early morning hours. Acob said due to the longtime outreach he has done with the area's homeless community, he did not believe the fire was caused by one of the people living on the streets. "It's unfortunate people have been saying the homeless. I don't think so. I tried to help everyone. I've been trying to pump up the community," he said. Acob said he spread the word among homeless people that he would give them food and has been doing so since he opened. Acob added that a condition of acquiring the lease for the property was cleaning it up. He said he and his family had worked on the building and property for eight months. At his restaurant, one of his favorite offerings was "smash tacos," which he developed. They also served local-style breakfasts and lau lau. On Facebook at the beginning of May, he posted photos of "Mama Nells Signature" halo halo and also shared photos of lumpia at his restaurant. Hours after the fire, Acob had a positive outlook and already had some future plans in mind. "We'll bounce back," he said. "I already have some ideas." He said those ideas include clearing the gutted building and reopening soon with food trucks. Cashier Pauline Piso was scheduled to work Friday morning. Instead, she stood across the street and watched Fire Department investigators inspect the ruined building and burned-out car where the blaze likely started. "We'll get back," Piso said. "We'll get back on our feet." * Matthew Thayer can be reached at thayer@maui.net. Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com. [gallery ids="1100145,1100144,1100143,1100142,1100141"]

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