Suspects in suspicious brush fires charged with arson
Two of the three people arrested last week in connection with six suspicious brush fires in Central Maui were charged with arson for a fire that burned about 5 acres Thursday along Maui Veterans Highway near the National Guard armory, police said.
John Hlis, 34, of Haiku was charged with second-degree arson for the fire at 2:04 p.m. in Puunene and fourth-degree arson for a fire at 1:40 p.m. Thursday at Waiale and Waiko roads in Wailuku. That fire was extinguished by a private construction water tanker before firefighters arrived.
Hlis also was charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, keeping a loaded firearm in an improper place, keeping a pistol in an improper place and keeping ammunition in an improper place, according to police records. His bail was set at $25,400.
He was released pending investigation of second-degree arson and three counts of fourth-degree arson in connection with the other fires.
Police said last week that Hlis was arrested Thursday after a civilian saw one of the fires being set and provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle.
Krystale Kaneakua, 33, of Pukalani, who was arrested Friday, was charged with second-degree arson in connection with the Puunene fire, with her bail set at $5,000. She was released pending investigation of another count of second-degree arson and four counts of fourth-degree arson, as well as multiple counts of violating an order for protection.
Her bail totaling $21,000 was surrendered in two pending cases involving multiple counts of violating an order of protection.
Police said Hlis and Kaneakua were seen buying a gas can, lighter fluid, charcoal and Lysol at a store just before the brush fires started Thursday.
The first fire was reported at 1:06 p.m. on Amala Place near the Kahului Wastewater Treatment Plant, followed by a fire at 1:16 p.m. on Wahinepio Avenue at Keopuolani Park. A fire at 1:24 p.m. off Kahekili Highway and Makaala Drive in Waiehu burned about 3 acres of brush mauka of the highway.
Hlis is charged in connection with the fourth fire at 1:40 p.m. at Waiale and Waiko roads.
A fifth fire was reported on Hansen Road at Hana Highway in Kahului, followed by the sixth and largest fire at 2:04 p.m. along Maui Veterans Highway that both Hlis and Kaneakua are charged in connection with.
Police said the six fires reported within a 90-minute period Thursday in Central Maui were intentionally set. No damages or injuries were reported.
Steven Sarol, 36, of Pukalani, who also was arrested Friday and was described as Kaneakua’s boyfriend, wasn’t arrested on any arson charges, according to police records.
Sarol was being held in lieu of $248,000 bail for violating conditions of his release on bail and contempt of court, as well as surrendered bail in pending cases.
Court records show warrants were issued for him when he didn’t show up in 2nd Circuit Court on May 3. In two pending cases, Sarol has pleaded not guilty to second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, three counts of second-degree theft and resisting arrest. He is on probation in two cases for second-degree theft and habitually driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
Police spokeswoman Alana Pico didn’t say Monday why Hlis and Kaneakua weren’t charged with most of the fires and why Sarol wasn’t arrested in connection with any of the fires.
“As the investigation is ongoing, no further information to be released at this time,” she said.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.