Tears flow on Maui after shopping center blaze
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
KAHULUI, Maui — Maui woke up yesterday to the otherworldly sight of a smoldering Kahului Shopping Center, and the realization that half of the 54-year-old shopping mall was destroyed by a wind-driven blaze described as the biggest structure fire to hit the island in at least a couple of decades.
Timothy Hurley • The Honolulu Advertiser
"It's terrible," said Andi Christie, one of the American Red Cross volunteers helping to feed firefighters who were still working yesterday. "There were people just crying. They've been shopping here since they were little kids. It's sad."
Half of the Kahului Shopping Center, the oldest on Maui, was destroyed in a fire that started Sunday night. No one was injured in the blaze.
The shopping center was the island's oldest.
Fire companies were called to the scene from all over the island Sunday as the flames shot up into the air and billowing black smoke could be seen across Maui's Central Valley. The spectacle brought hundreds of spectators and the streets were jammed with traffic. Fire officials yesterday complained about not being able to move their equipment fast enough.
Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro said the fire was brought under control at 5:15 a.m. yesterday following an intense night that saw fire crews blast an estimated 2,500 gallons of water a minute during the height of the fire.
"We brought everything we had, and we did the best we could," he said.
But the wind, the large amount of contents in the shopping center that acted as fuel and the lack of fire sprinklers conspired to spread the fire despite the enormous effort, said Deputy Fire Chief Neal Bal.
No one was hurt, although one firefighter working on a ladder was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains.
Fire and police arson squads were sifting through the rubble yesterday, even as fire crews continued to douse hotspots and police were restricting access to the public and shop owners alike.
Damage could reach into the millions of dollars, officials estimated. The worst was suffered by three tenants: Ah Fook's Super Market, T.J.'s Oriental Food Mart and the Salvation Army Thrift Store, but neighboring shops suffered varying degrees of smoke, water and other damage.
In addition, some burning embers were blown to nearby Kahului Public Library Sunday evening, setting fire to its shake roof. The flames were quickly extinguished by fire crews.
Officials said they believe the fire started at the thrift shop shortly after the mall closed at 4 p.m. Cordeiro said witnesses reported seeing a fire in a mattress.
Timothy Hurley • The Honolulu Advertiser
The thrift shop was closed Sunday, but people regularly drop off donated items whether the store is open or not, Salvation Army officials said.
Fire officials believe the Kahului Shopping Center fire began in or near the Salvation Army Thrift Shop.
Officials with property owner A&B Properties Inc. said they are working to relocate tenants and haven't had time to determine what might be the future of the center.
The 99,000-square-foot Kahului Shopping Center is the oldest of three shopping malls that line Ka'ahumanu Avenue in Kahului. It was developed by A&B predecessor KD Co. in 1951 and was one of the few "integrated shopping centers" in the United States at the time, A&B officials said.
Over the years, the national chains gravitated to other retail centers, leaving an eclectic mix of about 20 tenants that include Del's Farm Supply, Ichiban Restaurant and Sushi, Thelma's Haircutter and Maui Home Furnishing Imports.
A&B Properties has considered various redevelopment options for the shopping center over the years.
"We obviously will be making a decision soon as to the center's future. Our focus right now, however, is to work with our tenants to help them meet their immediate needs," said Norb Buelsing, A&B Properties executive vice president.
It's too early to know the future of Ah Fook's Super Market, said general manager Raymond Hew, who met with insurance officials yesterday afternoon.
Ah Fook's is a Maui institution, started in 1917 by a Chinese immigrant and moved to the Kahului Shopping Center 50 years ago.
Hew said he felt bad for Ah Fook's 55 employees.
"We're all very sad," Hew said. "Many of them have worked there a long time. They look forward to serving their customers and now all that has been taken away from them."
Salvation Army Capt. Thomas Taylor said he was confident the thrift store would rise again — just like it did nearly five years ago, when a fire destroyed all of the Kahului store's inventory shortly before it was to move into the Kahului Shopping Center. Authorities figured the fire was started by a homeless person who was cooking.
"The community is generous," Taylor said. "We know they'll be on board to help us."
In recent years, the Kahului Shopping Center has been home to a regular group of old-timers who gather and talk story in the center courtyard under the shade of its mature monkeypod trees.
The senior citizens who live in the nearby Hale Mahaolu housing complex are going to miss their gathering place.
"They look a little lost," said Roy Katsuda, executive director of Hale Mahaolu. "Some were crying. One sweet old lady said she just had to go and see it. I feel for them."
Red Cross volunteer Serina Souza said one old gentleman came up to her yesterday and asked if he could go into the shopping center and sit on the benches.
"I just told him he couldn't," she said. "It was sad."
Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.
