By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
A fire reported in the early morning hours yesterday
severely damaged this warehouse at 549 Kokea St.
that housed the Parkway Corp., an import-export
business, K's Masonry, and Leslie's Place, a karaoke bar.

Sand Isle warehouse
fire causes $1 million loss

Star-Bulletin staff

Police and fire investigators are looking into a possible connection between a fire yesterday morning that caused more than $1 million damage to a Kokea Street warehouse and another fire nearly two weeks ago on Sand Island.

Police said in both cases, the fire appeared to have been set to cover up a burglary. A company van was apparently taken from the Parkway Corp. on Kokea Street, and a company car was stolen from the Sand Island business as well.

Both businesses also had roll-up doorways where the burglar or burglars may have entered.

It took firefighters about 7 hours to extinguish the fire yesterday at 549 Kokea St.

The building houses the Parkway Corp., an import-export business, K's Masonry, and Leslie's Place, a karaoke bar.

Fire Capt. Richard Soo said the fire had "multiple points of origin" -- an indication it was deliberately set.

The fire was reported at about 4:53 a.m. It took firefighters nearly two hours to bring it under control. The fire was not extinguished until 12:37 p.m.

The owner of the Parkway Corp. estimates damage to the contents of the warehouse alone at more than $900,000. Soo said damage to the building was extensive and estimated it at between $500,000 and $1 million.

Soo said Parkway Corp. imports clothing items like rubber slippers and T-shirts that are sold at swap meets.

A fire Sept. 1 at Action Glass and Aluminum Inc. on Sand Island Road caused about $80,000 in damage, Soo said.