Girl arrested in
connection with fire

The 12-year-old is believed to have had
help in setting a blaze at a Kauai school

Kauai police have arrested a 12-year-old Kalaheo girl in connection with a fire that destroyed a 100-year-old elementary school building last month.

The girl, whose name is not being released because she is a juvenile, was arrested Monday on "suspicion of being responsible for setting the Kalaheo Elementary School fire" on May 7, Kauai County spokeswoman Mary A. Daubert said.

Police released the girl to the custody of her mother that day.

"They don't believe she acted alone," Daubert said yesterday. "They're continuing their investigation and they're hoping they'll get more information.

"It's taken a month, exactly one month to get this far."

Daubert said the girl was arrested for suspicion of criminal property damage. Kauai police are encouraging people to call CrimeStoppers for more information.

Officials with the county Department of the Prosecuting Attorney said because the case involves a juvenile, formal charges would come through a Family Court petition. Prosecuting Attorney Craig De Silva said his office has only heard about the case and has not seen a written report.

"Once we review the case, we can file a petition," De Costa said. "That petition will then be served to the juvenile's family and a court date set."

Kalaheo Elementary serves about 480 students from kindergarten to fifth grade and celebrated its 100th anniversary last month.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which destroyed school offices and six classrooms in the wood structure that has existed since at least 1924, when the school moved from Lawai. The destroyed building was one of 12 on the school's grounds, and housed classrooms for fourth- and fifth-graders along with special-needs students.