FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
A fire on Tuesday in the Waianae chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, off Plantation Road in Waianae, destroyed the gymnasium and caused extensive damage to the kitchen and offices. Above, Honolulu firefighters were on the roof of the building Tuesday after extinguishing the fire in the gym behind them.
|
|
Mormons to rebuild after arson in Waianae
Church officials estimate that it will cost $2.5 million to fix the facilities
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will come up with about $2.5 million to replace or repair portions of a gymnasium, kitchen and offices at its Waianae church damaged by arsonists Tuesday, officials said yesterday.
The estimate was made by church officials who are here from church headquarters in Salt Lake City to survey various building projects in Hawaii, including a new chapel in Kalaeloa, said Ruben Paet, Makakilo Stake president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Paet said the estimate would be much higher for a complete tear-down and rebuild.
"We will replace, perhaps improve it," said Jack Hoag, church spokesman.
The buildings are 40 years old, he said.
Hoag says the church self-insures its buildings. And because the construction and repair of church facilities are centralized, the money and planning for the project will come from Salt Lake City.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
The chapel and facilities of the Waianae Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are seen before sustaining the damage from Tuesday's fire.
|
|
But first, the church will need to hire a local contractor to clean up the damage, Paet said. That will happen as soon as Honolulu police arson investigators clear the site. They have asked church officials to stay out of the building while they conduct their investigation and for their own safety.
"There's toxic material floating around. It's a dangerous place to be," Paet said.
Honolulu police are canvassing the area looking for witnesses. They believe the fire was started by more than one person, Detective Gary Lahens said, "because the fire was started in different areas."
Investigators have recovered some evidence and are looking for a laboratory to conduct tests on them, he said.
So far, there is no evidence linking Tuesday's arson fire with any other fires or crimes, Lahens said.
Paet said the gymnasium had been broken into twice in the previous two weeks, probably by kids who raided jars of candy and threw toilet paper around.
He does not believe the same people are responsible for the fire.
Paet said the damaged facilities were used by about 500 people for church or church-sanctioned activities only. He said the activities will continue at the Makakilo Stake center facilities, which are much larger than those damaged by the fire.
