HONOLULU -- Police arrested a 50-year-old man on Monday night on charges he set his girlfriend on fire.

Police are seeking first-degree arson and attempted murder charges against Kim Massey.

The home on Waiomea Street in Honokai Hale was being cleaned out on Tuesday. On Oct 5, Massey set his girlfriend on fire as she lay on a bed at the home, police said.

"The suspect doused the victim with gasoline and ignited her," Honolulu Police Department Capt. Frank Fujii said.

The woman suffered second-degree burns to her face and chest. Her condition upgraded from critical to stable.

A friend of Massey who was at the home on Tuesday said that Massey did not mean to burn the woman.

Police disagree with what Massey's friends said. They called it a "classic case of domestic violence."

The couple was arguing over money before Massey returned to the room and set her on fire, investigators said.

"No, it was not an accident. It was intentionally set," Fujii said.

The victim lived in the house off and on, police said.

Massey has been having financial difficulties, his friends said. Police said he is unemployed.

Police said they expect to charge Massey on Tuesday night. He has two prior misdemeanor convictions for assault and abuse.