A historic structure in South Kona, once a popular bowling alley, caught fire on Sunday morning, leading to $1.7 million in reported damages and significant disruptions to business and traffic in the area. According to a statement obtained by Big Island Now, the fire at the building, now a commercial and residential space, occurred off Hawai‘i Belt Road in Kainaliu and was tackled by the Hawai‘i Fire Department after being reported at 8:28 a.m.
The fire caused visible flames to erupt from the second story. As crews managed the emergency, a portion of Mamalahoa Highway was closed from 10 a.m. to nearly 1 p.m., creating a significant halt in the usual Sunday traffic flow. Hawaiian Electric was also on the scene to address potential issues with utility lines. Despite the chaos, no injuries have been reported, and nearby structures thankfully did not suffer damage, as per Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii News Now reports that multiple businesses operate out of the building, which has served various purposes following its days as a bowling alley. Nearly $2 million in damages have been sustained, per initial estimates. Hawaii News Now also noted that Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom crews worked into Sunday evening, focused on repairs and replacements for affected cables.
The intensive efforts of 32 firefighters brought the fire under control by 9:35 a.m. and fully extinguished by 2:54 p.m., as reported by Big Island Now. The Hawaiian Island police have collaborated closely with the fire department in the investigation to unearth the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined as of the latest updates. More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
