Members of the Hawaiian community celebrated the finding of a long spear tip snatched from the King Kamehameha statue in Hilo during the holiday weekend as police continued to search for clues to explain the vandalism. ADVERTISING Members of the
Members of the Hawaiian community celebrated the finding of a long spear tip snatched from the King Kamehameha statue in Hilo during the holiday weekend as police continued to search for clues to explain the vandalism.
Detectives found the 6-foot-long ihe Tuesday in overgrowth along the banks of a channel leading to the Wailoa River. It was reported missing from the iconic statue in the Wailoa River State Recreation Area on Sunday.
“That’s great news. That made my day,” said Robert W. “Bobby” Yamada II, treasurer of the local chapter of the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association, upon hearing the segment was found.
The association raised funds to bring the 5-ton statue from Kauai to Hilo in 1997, and Yamada was the vice president of operations for Yamada and Sons when the company installed it.
“There’s so many people out there, especially alumni, that’s going to be so happy that it’s found, ” he said. “And Hawaiian people, in general, too. Because on Facebook, it was all over the place.”
Police Lt. Greg Esteban of the Hilo Criminal Investigations Section said no suspects had been identified.
“We’re looking at the nearby businesses and buildings for video surveillance, checking local areas for video footage,” he noted. “And there was another piece of evidence that was recovered during the recovery of the spear segment that we’re also looking at, as well.”
Citing the ongoing investigation, Esteban declined to disclose the exact location the ihe was found or how police think it was stolen, except to say it “was forcibly removed from the lower staff section.”
Police enlisted the help of a Hawaii County Fire Department ladder truck so a civilian police evidence technician could conduct forensics tests on the statue Tuesday.
Members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I were shocked after learning the top half of the spear was missing. The organization holds an annual Kamehameha Day celebration.
“It seems like the general community, and especially the Hawaiian community, they are pretty excited about it,” said Pua Ishibashi, who holds the title of lani alii, before the spear was found. “And they look at it, which I do, as a great sign or act of disrespect to Kamehameha.”
James “Kimo” Pihana, a retired Mauna Kea ranger and member of the Royal Order who identifies himself as a direct descendent of Kamehameha, described the vandalism as “desecration” but said he was “relieved” the ihe was found. Pihana stood guard at the statue after learning the spear had been taken.
“I’m just glad they recovered it,” he said. “When the proper authorities, especially the Kamehameha alumni committee, retrieve and replace and hold whatever necessary rituals (are) to be conducted in that area, I’d like to be present.”
Radio personality Jacqueline “Skylark” Rossetti said she’s also pleased about the recovery of the ihe. Rossetti, like Yamada, was part of the committee of Kamehameha alums who raised funds to have the statue — which had been rejected by the people of Kauai as a gift from the Princeville Corp. — shipped to the Big Island and installed in the state park.
“I’m glad it’s found,” she said. “I’m hoping that the gentleman who volunteered to re-do it for us will help us to secure it back together now that he doesn’t have to make a whole ‘nother piece. So I’m looking forward to that. I’m glad with enough people talking about it, it was found. I’m just hoping we can find the person or people who did it.”
Rossetti said she’s puzzled the stolen spear was discovered nearby.
“My son and I walked all around the grass area around the statue Monday and we didn’t find it. So it’s interesting that the police found it there,” she said.
“I’m glad that we got the piece back and at least we can work on fixing it up and making Kamehameha proud again.”
Police continue to seek the public’s help to identify the responsible person or persons, and ask anyone with information to call Detective Sandor Finkey at 961-2384 or email him at sandor.finkey@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity may Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com and Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
