Continued Investigation into Yamashita Bay Fire

Photo by Matt Yamashita

Late in the afternoon on Friday, Oct. 4, crews from the Puko’o fire station responded to a structural fire at Yamashita Bay in Honoulimalo’o on Molokai’s east end. The 850 square foot cabin was “fully involved” according to reports from the Maui Fire Dept, and not extinguished until 9 p.m.

The house at the well-known spot was almost totally destroyed, with just the foundation, porch and a couple of garage walls still standing. While the cause of the blaze is still officially under investigation, Capt. Jamie Winfrey of the Maui Police Dept. on Molokai explained that arson has not been ruled out, and that the police are still conducting interviews with possible witnesses.

No one was staying at the house at the time of the fire.

Todd Yamashita, one of the owners of the property, was told that the fire started in the main room of the house. Someone had ripped the stove out of the wall and placed it against the door, according to Yamashita, and a mattress and propane tank had been stacked on top of the stove, probably leading to the fire.

“It was an extreme move,” said Yamashita of the evidence he believes points to possible arson. “You don’t often see that on Molokai.”

After the fire, tons of calls, texts and comments of support from the Molokai community poured in.

“That beach house was just one of those special places,” said Yamashita. “One of the hardest parts for me is that as special as it was to me, it was also significant to so many other people.”

Yamashita recounted frequent visits to the beach house growing up, when the 40-minute ride from Kaunakakai seemed like it lasted hours.

“It was a chance to commune with nature,” he explained, prime for fishing, diving and surfing.

The beachfront property also played host to various youth, cultural and environmental groups as well as class reunions, graduation parties, weddings and more.

“We tried to associate the place with that kind of energy,” said Yamashita. “The family went out of its way to support the younger generations on Molokai.”

The simple structure had stood for over 80 years. The house was actually a repurposed World War II training barrack, which Henry Yamashita had strapped to a flatbed and then driven to its current location on the beach.

“Against all odds, that little wooden box lasted 80 years,” said Todd Yamashita.

Without fire insurance and sitting in both a conservation district and Special Management Area, the road to re-building the family property might be difficult. But, for Yamashita the effort will be worth it.

“My grandfather put it together for us,” he explained. “Now, we’ve got to rebuild that place for our grandkids.”

Molokai residents can keep an eye out for a Go-Fund-Me to help support the rebuilding effort.