Thieves target master canoe carver once again
KANEOHE, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - "It hurts, you know. It really hurts." Master canoe carver "Uncle Bobby" Puakea was in no mood to mask his frustration Wednesday afternoon.
For the fourth time in three years—and the second time in little over a month—he was the victim of theft.
In late June, someone stole over $1,000 worth of koa wood from his canoe carving station at Heeia State Park. Sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, his locked storage shed was broken into. Gone missing is over $4,000 worth of power tools and various other items.
"I wanna kind of bang my head someplace. These people really must be suffering," he said.
A lock had been cut clean off the shed, and housing for another had been peeled back as if it were putty. Puakea says heavy equipment had to have been used to get past his locks.
Adding to his frustration, the work on the canoe which was delayed last month due to the koa theft has again been set back because of this most recent crime.
He says he'll prosecute the thieves if found. Call Honolulu Crimestoppers with any information regarding the crime at 808-955-8300.
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