A 43-year-old Puna man was arrested at Hilo International Airport hours after a fire tore through a home at the back of a family property in Orchidland Estates, endangering four people including two children. Conrad Keanini-Gomes now faces a first-degree arson charge, a class A felony that carries up to 20 years in prison, in connection with the early-morning blaze that broke out Sunday.
According to KITV, Keanini-Gomes and his wife lived in the residence, which sat at the rear of an Orchidland Estates property owned by his father. The fire caused roughly $300,000 in damage to the home itself and another $5,000 in damage to a nearby vehicle, the outlet reported. Keanini-Gomes was arrested later that same day at Hilo International Airport, per the same report.
Puna Patrol opened the case, while the Hawaii Fire Department handled the investigation into how the fire started, the station's report states. KITV identified Keanini-Gomes as being from Puna, while West Hawaii Today described him as a Kurtistown man arrested Saturday morning at Hilo International Airport — a discrepancy in both his hometown and the arrest date that has not been resolved between the two outlets.
Prosecutor Confirms Arrest, Charges
Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said Keanini-Gomes was arrested and charged in relation to the residential fire, according to Hawaii News Now. Keanini-Gomes made his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Tuesday afternoon, September 15, 2026, where bail was maintained at $100,000, the outlet reported. He was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
First-degree arson under Hawaii law is classified as a class A felony, carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence, per Hawaii News Now's report. The charge against Keanini-Gomes stems specifically from allegations tied to the Orchidland Estates fire, attributed to the prosecuting attorney's office. As with any pending case, the charges remain allegations only, and Keanini-Gomes is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Investigators Seek Public's Help
The available reporting does not detail what led up to the fire or establish a motive, nor does it identify the four people endangered by the blaze or specify whether anyone was injured. It's also unclear whether the case has moved beyond the initial charge since Keanini-Gomes's court appearance this week.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. The comparison isn't unique to this case — Hawaii County has pursued other arson-related charges in recent months, including a May case in which the Hawaii Police Department announced that 34-year-old Kaleb Paulus of Hilo was charged with second-degree arson and first-degree terroristic threatening, though full details of that case's bail and outcome were not made available.
