Posted on: Friday, October 29, 2004

Investigators rule arson in Keolu Hills

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

Investigators have determined that a fire that destroyed a Keolu Hills home early Tuesday morning was deliberately set.

People who first noticed the fire, including a police officer who lives nearby, reported a strong smell of gasoline coming from the home just after the fire started, sometime before 5:25 a.m.

Until very recently, the home was owned by the family of the late Raymond Gomes Sr., whose funeral in January was held just before one of the more brazen broad-daylight double murders in Island history.

Police have said that members of opposing factions, which were battling for the right to provide protection for at least two substantial gambling operations in Honolulu, attended Gomes' funeral at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kane'ohe on Jan. 7.

Members of the opposing groups then drove to the city's Pali Golf Course for what was supposed to have been a reconciliation meeting. But within minutes, gunfire erupted in the golf course's upper parking lot and two men were killed.

Police and fire officials have said they have no suspects yet in the fire that destroyed the former Gomes home.

Fire investigators said a man approached firefighters Tuesday morning as they were winding up operations at the Kupau Street fire and told them he bought the house about a month ago and was renovating it.

Damage to the home was estimated at $120,000.