A 50-year-old man accused of dousing his girlfriend with gasoline and lighting her on fire during an argument over money now faces attempted murder and first-degree arson charges.

Kim R. Massey was arrested Monday night on suspicion of attempted murder and first-degree arson in connection with a fire Thursday at a Wai'omea Street home in Hono-kai Hale. First-degree arson and first-degree attempted murder are class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

A 51-year-old woman who was injured in the blaze told investigators she was arguing with Massey about money when Massey left the bedroom of the home, returned minutes later, poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. The fire spread, engulfing the bedroom area of the home before firefighters extinguished it.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Straub hospital with second- and third-degree burns over more than 40 percent of her body. She remained in the hospital with severe burns to her face and chest, police said.

Massey was also taken to Straub Thursday for treatment of burns on his hands and arms but was released. Calls to Massey's home were not immediately returned yesterday.

"The important message here is if anyone is a victim of domestic violence, report it immediately," said Honolulu police Capt. Frank Fujii. "It shouldn't have to wait until it gets to this point."

Records show Massey pleaded no contest in May 2005 to an assault charge involving a woman he was dating.

In November 2004, Massey was arrested and charged with third-degree assault after he allegedly hit the woman, records show. He was put on probation after pleading no contest.

Phone calls to the woman Massey assaulted in 2004 were not immediately returned yesterday.

In another situation, one of Massey's ex-girlfriends took out two temporary restraining orders against him, one in 2002 and another in 2003.

The Wai'omea Street fire was one of two early-morning fires on Thursday.

In the other fire on Liliha Street, arson is suspected, but no arrests have been made. The cases are not considered to be connected.

The fire in Liliha gutted one house and damaged five others.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com and David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.