WAIANAE, Hawaii -- Police and federal authorities canvassed Waianae neighborhoods on Wednesday looking for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious before an intentionally set fire destroyed a large part of a Mormon church.

The arson fire caused a $1 million in damage, investigators said.

Police said they are looking for more than one person who may have intentionally started the fire. Arson investigators at the Honolulu Police Department said they have not received any phone calls or tips about the fire.

Police and federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators spoke to residents in the surrounding community.

The fire destroyed the gymnasium at Waianae's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Fire investigators said they recovered evidence from the burned-out gym. They would not say what it is.

Investigators said that the burn patterns in the gym, the kitchen and two offices prove it is a case of arson.

"Whoever did it, they knew exactly what they wanted to do was to burn down the building," Detective Gary La Hens said.

Police said they believe more than one person started the fire.

"You have to go to different areas to start the fire so the fire would just engulf the whole compound," La Hens said.

The suspects would probably have been carrying a great amount of accelerant to start the fire, investigators said.

Although ATF investigators were on the scene, police have not ruled it a hate crime since the church area was not damaged.

The fire follows two break-ins at the church in the last two weeks. The intruders stole candy and toilet-papered the gym in the break-ins, church officials said.

Police said they do not know if the break-ins and the fire are related. However, they said they do believe the suspects may have been in the gym before.

"We're betting that somebody is aware of this individual, and somebody's going to talk and it is going to get back to us," La Hens said.

Church leaders and their members are stunned by the crime. For now, the congregation will worship at the Makakilo Stake Center.

"They're just distraught by it. They really can't believe this happened," Makakilo Stake Center President Ruben Paet said.

Church officials said they intend to rebuild. Investigators estimated that it will cost $2.5 million to tear down the damaged structure and rebuild.