Fire causes estimated $1.5M in damages

LIHUE — A Tuesday fire at Y. Hata &Co., Ltd. on Aukele Street caused an estimated $1.5 million in damages.

Lihue firefighters were first on scene shortly after 3:30 a.m., and discovered two trucks and a stack of wooden pallets fully engulfed in flames, according to a county press release. The blaze also extended into the structure nearby.

Crews fully extinguished about 4:45 a.m.

Y. Hata &Co. Limited Chief Operating Officer Jim Cremins said he is thankful no one was hurt.

“We can replace buildings, we can replace trucks, but we can’t replace people,” he said in an interview with The Garden Island newspaper in a phone interview.

The fire caused smoke damage to the warehouse and four trucks were deemed a complete loss. The balance of the fleet sustained damage that can be repaired, but it will take a day or two to complete those repairs. The refrigerated area of the warehouse hasn’t lost power, but the business still doesn’t have power in the warehouse, he said.

Due to damages caused by the fire, Cremins said they have no way to make deliveries to their customers, but will update them regarding the situation as soon as possible.

“We are so sorry for the disruptions to our customers businesses caused by the fire at our Kauai facility this morning,” he said in a statement.

Y. Hata &Co. Limited was founded in Hilo 105 years ago. The business has locations on each of the major islands and on Kauai they have about 400 customers, Cremins said.

They service wholesale customers, restaurants, schools and the United States military.

On Kauai, Y. Hata &Co. Limited, employs 33 people.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Bethany Freudenthal, Crime, courts and county reporter, 652-7891, bfreudenthal@thegardenisland.com