44-year-old woman accused of setting Naalehu house fires
A 44-year-old Naalehu woman is charged with two counts of first-degree arson for allegedly starting a fire that burned two homes May 9 on Ohai Road in Naalehu.
Brenda Kekoa, who was the subject of a wanted bulletin by police, was arrested Tuesday at a Naalehu residence. She was booked and charged with the two Class A felonies, which carry a potential 20-year prison term upon conviction.
Kekoa is accused of setting one house afire.
The flames spread to a second home. Both homes were destroyed but no one was reported injured.
At Kekoa’s initial court appearance Wednesday, Kona District Judge Bruce Larson reduced Kekoa’s bail from $20,000 to $10,000 and ordered her to appear today for a preliminary hearing.
Kekoa remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
