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Maui teen charged in elementary school arson case

COURTESY ASA ELLISON

Kahului Elementary School after a suspicious fire that caused more than $1 million in damage. A 17-year-old boy has been charged with arson in connection with the fire.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with arson in connection with a fire that caused $1.2 million in damage to Kahului Elementary School.

The boy, of Kahului, was arrested and charged Friday in connection with the Nov. 24 fire. He was charged with two counts of first-degree arson, three counts of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree attempted burglary, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal property damage.

He appeared in Family Court and was sent to Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility on Oahu.

Police said the investigation is continuing.

The fire began about 9:30 p.m. at the school at 410 Hina Avenue. When firefighters arrived, they found a building on fire in the middle of the campus and a portable classroom engulfed in flames closer to the Maui High School parking lot, police said.

The fire in the middle of campus also damaged an adjacent building.

Seven fire companies responded to the two-alarm blaze and extinguished it at about 12:50 a.m. Nov. 25.

Damage was estimated at $900,000 to the structure and $300,000 to the contents.

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