Fire investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire Monday morning that destroyed a Honoka'a home and left a Big Island couple homeless.

The fire at the two-bedroom home at 48-5484 Kukuihaele Road did an estimated $150,000 damage to the building and contents.

Firefighters were called to the home about a half-mile south of Waipi'o Valley lookout at 10:44 a.m. and found the residence engulfed in flames. The couple who lived there were not at home, and the 1,000-square-foot structure burned to the ground.

Fire officials worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to the surrounding forest, and finally extinguished the blaze at about 2 p.m.