Home and belongings lost in Alewa Heights house fire

Aug 24, 2026

A Honolulu family lost nearly everything in an accidental electrical fire, a hard blow softened only by the fact that no one was hurt.

  • The fire tore through the family's Alewa Heights home and destroyed almost all their belongings in under an hour.
  • Investigators traced it to kitchen wiring that sparked and set insulation alight; the cause was ruled accidental.
  • The family had been staying with a friend during a three-day power outage after Hurricane Iona when they got the call.
  • They lost irreplaceable items, including an antique guitar passed down in the family, and the home where they started their church.
  • Their cat ran off during the chaos and is still missing; a fundraiser is collecting help for them.

Outlook: Fire officials are urging people to unplug heat-producing appliances during outages and check them for damage before turning the power back on.

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