Man indicted on arson charge
Pukalani restaurant was damaged in fireWAILUKU - A Makawao man has been indicted on a charge of arson for allegedly flicking a cigarette onto the roof of a Pukalani restaurant to start a fire that caused more than $1,000 in damage last year.
Makaio Bachman-Majamay, 19, pleaded not guilty to third-degree arson during his arraignment Wednesday in 2nd Circuit Court.
A July 13 trial was scheduled for him.
The fire was reported at 8:45 p.m. July 26 after Bachman-Majamay shared a cigarette with another man while sitting outside the Wei Wei Bar-B-Q Restaurant at Pukalani Terrace Center, officials reported.
Bachman-Majamay allegedly flicked the cigarette onto the shake roof of the restaurant before walking into the Subway restaurant next door where he was working.
When the roof started to burn several minutes later, a witness ran into Wei Wei Bar-B-Q to get a pail of water to throw on the fire.
The witness threw three pails of water onto the roof to douse the fire, which was extinguished when firefighters arrived.
Bachman-Majamay had been released after posting a $10,000 bail bond.
Judge Joel August ordered him not to smoke as part of his bail.
