Standing on the side of Waimea’s Anuenue Playground, their roots go back 18 years. But a single day of vandalism has stripped seven mature trees of their bark and splintered the community.
Standing on the side of Waimea’s Anuenue Playground, their roots go back 18 years. But a single day of vandalism has stripped seven mature trees of their bark and splintered the community.
Police are investigating the vandalism, which seems to have occurred over the weekend, but there are no leads or suspects, said South Kohala Police Capt. Aimee Wana.
If the vandal is arrested, the severity of the charges depend, in part, if a value can be placed upon the trees damaged in the act. The investigation is complicated because it’s difficult to place monetary value on the trees. Without an assessment, there’s little the Police Department can do. However, if a value is obtained, anyone charged in connection with this incident could face criminal property damage charges, Wana said.
A resident contacted the Waimea Outdoor Circle after finding the damage Monday. Upon inspection, Waimea Outdoor Circle President Cheryl Langton was appalled by “the unnecessary act of destruction” and “strange” crime. Peeling off the bark interferes with a tree’s health, and the severity of the damage will most likely kill these mature trees, of which two are native koa, she said.
“There’s absolutely no reason to do something like this. What’s the purpose? The trees and the park belong to everyone. This is a sad loss for the community,” she said.
Waimea Outdoor Circle planted 64 trees, all donated by local families, at the playground in 1994 to provide needed shade. The damaged koa were roughly 25 feet tall, and the other destroyed trees are calliandra, a low, branching tree with showy flower clusters, which resembles ohia, said Carol Hendricks, Waimea Outdoor Circle vice president and Ulu Laau Waimea Nature Park chairwoman.
There used to be a sign indicating each tree and the corresponding donor. The sign was badly damaged and replaced at least three times, before it was eventually stolen a few years ago, Hendricks said.
“The park is a public place and we know there’s going to be some vandalism. You just hope it’s not bad or often,” she said. “We were shocked upon seeing the destruction. It’s so sickening. Why destroy trees?”
Langton, on behalf of the Waimea Outdoor Circle, filed a police report Tuesday and notified the county Department of Parks and Recreation. She said a maintenance worker told her the vandalism likely occurred between late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning.
Parks and Recreation Director Bob Fitzgerald said his department was aware of the vandalism and he was glad information has been passed along to police. He asked anyone seeing suspicious activity at the playground or any other county facility to call the Police Department’s nonemergency number at 935-3311.
“This is a total lack of respect to the park and the people of Waimea,” he said. “I don’t understand why someone would do something like this, especially in Waimea, where the community is so involved in protecting the environment.”
Langton is hoping the community will help apprehend the vandal and halt any further vandalism. At the very least, she said, the vandal as a penalty should have to replace the trees and help take care of the park.
“If you see someone damaging anything, please speak up or call the police. Someone has to care about and speak for the trees,” Hendricks said.
Wana said those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.