A night-time blaze gutted the historic Akebono Theater and Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant in Pahoa.
A night-time blaze gutted the historic Akebono Theater and Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant in Pahoa.
“It’s kind of a shock, but other than that, I’m OK,” said Salvador Luquin Jimenez, who owns both buildings.
He said relatives who lived above his restaurant got out without injuries.
Matthias Kusch, Hawaii County Fire Department battalion chief, said an adjacent building that’s home to a kawa bar also was damaged. It’s not clear yet what started the fire.
As a result of the fire, Pahoa Village Road was closed from Kauhale Road to Kaleo’s Restaurant.
The theater is nearly a century old, according to its Facebook page.
Kusch said the fire was reported around midnight.