HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH HILO PATROL DISTRICT
LIEUTENANT RANDALL A. MEDEIROS
PHONE: 961-2213
NOVEMBER 20, 2003
H-71059
Police are looking for the culprits who defaced the Naha and Pinao stones located in front of the Hawaii Public Library on Waianuenue Avenue in Hilo.
Police received a call Thursday (November 20, 2003) that the stones were defaced sometime between 7:15 p.m. Wednesday evening and 6:30 a.m. the next morning
This is the second time in the past two weeks that the sacred Hawaiian stones have been the target of vandals.
On November 12, 2003, the Hawaii Public Library staff reported that vandals marred the stones with what was later determined to be some sort of "white wash."
In this latest incident, the culprits apparently used white spray paint to deface the two stones. As in the first incident, the culprits painted the dates "1893-2004." In this instance, however, they added numerous Hawaiian phrases and left a torn and defaced American flag on the Naha stone.
Investigators have enlisted the assistance of an authority on native Hawaiian culture and language to learn more about the significance of the phrases painted on the stone.
Police have classified this incident as a criminal property damage case. It is being investigated by the South Hilo Patrol Division.
Anyone with information about the case or the identity of the culprits is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. The numbers are answered 24 hours a day. Callers will be given a coded number and their identity will remain anonymous. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if their call leads to an arrest, indictment or the recovery of property. Crime Stoppers neither subscribes to "Caller ID," nor does it record phone calls.