CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM A investigator said yesterday an ignitable liquid was used to start the fire that killed two people at 91-1340 Hoopio St.

Fatal fire possibly
set on purpose

Evidence points to arson
in a blaze that killed a couple,
a fire investigator says

CORRECTION Saturday, October 23, 2004 » Brenda Mathias, who was found dead after an Ewa house fire Tuesday, was appointed co-executive director of Kokua Kalihi Valley in 2003. An article on Page A3 Thursday incorrectly said she was appointed in 1993. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Honolulu Fire Department investigators believe a house fire in Ewa where two people died Tuesday was intentionally set.

A Fire Department investigator found evidence an ignitable liquid was used and that the fire began at different points of the house, including all three bedrooms and the living room, said fire Capt. Emmit Kane.

Two fuel containers were also found in the home.

Kane said one gas can was found in the front bedroom where the bodies were found near each other.

Family and co-workers believe the two people found at the home were Brenda Mathias, 56, co-executive director of Kokua Kalihi Valley, a community health care center, and Lino T. Vaivao, 55, a retired soldier and Gulf War veteran who worked as a security guard at Schofield Barracks.

The fire, reported at 3:43 p.m., consumed the roof and the walls down to the floor of the sage-colored wooden house at 91-1340 Hoopio St.

Police are awaiting the results of autopsies, which will probably be conducted today, before making any determination on the case, homicide Lt. Bill Kato said yesterday.

Some neighbors reported smelling gasoline when the fire first ignited, he said.

Family and co-workers said there was no indication of any problems between Mathias and Vaivao.

"They were happy," said Vaivao's sister, Bertha Vaivao.

Vaivao said the couple had been together for 10 to 11 years. Vaivao, who used to work with Mathias, introduced her to her brother, who had just retired from the Army.

"She told me when she got divorced, she wanted to meet a Samoan guy," Vaivao said. "I said, 'I have exactly the person for you.'"

Lino Vaivao was the 12th of 15 children, who would call his sister Bertha frequently to see what she was cooking, and also expressed concern for her children.

He had three daughters of his own, 25, 22 and 17, and grandchildren, Bertha Vaivao said. Mathias had three daughters in their 20s living here and a son in Canada.

He was off work Tuesday, she said. Mathias had taken off early that day.

Mathias' co-workers were in shock at the news of her death, and a group went to her home to place flowers there.

"She was almost the heart and soul of Kokua Kalihi Valley," said Allen Kanno, its chief financial officer. "People looked to her for guidance."

Mathias cared for the clients and had a passion for serving others, he said.

"She was always willing to lend a hand, always willing to help someone out," he said. "I think she just enjoyed people."

Mathias came from her native Canada and earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Hawaii Pacific College.

She began in 1990 as assistant director and chief fiscal officer, and was appointed as co-executive director in 1993, responsible for the organization's day-to-day operations.

Neighbor Sylvia Perreira, 69, said the couple were "mind-your-own-business kind of people" who she said were nice and shared their bananas with her.

Other neighbors said the couple kept mostly to themselves and had moved in about four years ago.

The couple's 4-year-old golden retriever survived the fire and was being taken care of by Bertha Vaivao.