Police today arrested an Enchanted Lake man on suspicion of starting three fires which burned about eight acres of brush on the makai side of Kalaniana'ole Highway along the Ka Iwi scenic shoreline park near the Makapu'u lighthouse.

Kenton F. Leong, 41, of Akupa Place was arrested at 10:50 a.m. fronting 9900 Kalaniana'ole Highway and booked for first-degree arson.

Leong was uncharged but still being held at the main police station cellblock at 5:15 p.m. today.

A police sergeant and several witnesses allegedly saw the suspect acting suspiciously before the start of the third fire leading to his arrest.

The fires forced the closure of the highway between the Hawai'i Kai golf course and Makapu'u lighthouse entrances from 11 a.m. to noon.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said the fires started at 6:15 a.m., 7:40 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and the firefights involved the department's helicopter and seven companies. The first fire was extinguished in an hour, Seelig said.

The second fire burned five acres and was the largest of the three, according to Seelig.

Seelig said the third fire started while firefighters were still battling the second fire.