Officials in Kaua‘i are currently investigating a fire that was extinguished in Waimea on Monday evening, which they now suspect was a case of arson. In a collated effort, the Kaua‘i Fire Department alongside the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife managed to control the blaze above Panini Place, which thankfully resulted in no injuries or structural damage. Investigators on the scene, including personnel from the Kaua‘i Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau, DOFAW, and the Kaua‘i Police Department, later uncovered incendiary devices in the vicinity of the Poki‘i ridge fire. Investigators are treating both the Poki‘i ridge and Panini fires as intentional, as reported by County of  Kaua‘i government news release.

Firefighters from the Waimea Fire Station, along with DOFAW crews, responded to the fire that ignited an area 40 yards by 20 yards approximately and swiftly put it out, preventing it from causing greater calamity. According to a statement obtained by the County of Kaua‘i government press release, Fire Chief Michael Gibson cautioned on the severity of arson, stating, "Arson can quickly lead to uncontrollable wildfires, endangering lives, property, and the surrounding area." The situation was severe enough to prompt the closure of Waimea Canyon Drive for an hour due to the firefighting activity.

The authorities are taking a firm stance against the crime of arson. The penalty for arson in Hawaii is steep, as Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck emphasized in a statement saying, "Arson is a serious crime with severe consequences, posing an immediate threat to lives, properties, and the environment." Knowing or intentional acts of starting a blaze or causing property damage over $20,000 is considered a Class A Felony, potentially leading to 20 years in prison according to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes section 708-8251, as per the County of Kaua‘i.

The incident in Waimea is not the only fire that has caught the attention of local authorities. Officials are still looking into the cause of a grand wildfire that broke out in the Hanapēpē-Kaumakani area on July 15. Furthermore, a 10-acre fire in Kapa‘a on July 16 was linked to incorrect usage of charging equipment, as revealed by the Kaua‘i Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau. The authorities urge anyone with information about these incidents to contribute to the investigation. They may contact the Kaua‘i Fire Department Dispatch at 808-241-1711 or reach out to Lt. Kennison Nagahisa directly. For those preferring anonymity, tips can be shared through Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi at 808-246-8300.