Bomb Threats Prompt Evacuations at 2 Kahului Stores

Police blocked the entrance and exits to the Kmart store in Kahului. November 1, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Separate bomb threat reports, believed to be related, were called in to two Kahului businesses on Friday morning, Nov. 1, prompting evacuations and searches of both retail locations, police said.

The incidents were reported at 10:40 a.m. at the Big Kmart on Dairy Road, and at 10:55 a.m. at the Walgreens on East Kamehameha Avenue.

According to police reports, both incidents involved a phone call from an unknown male individual that demanded money be put on Green Dot Visa cards.

In both incidents, the suspect warned the employees that if they did not comply, a bomb allegedly located within the business would go off, said Maui Police Lt. William Juan.

Wailuku Patrol Officers spoke with managers at both businesses and following an assessment decided to evacuate the buildings.

Police say a search of both businesses did not reveal any suspicious items, and no money was lost to the suspect in either incident.

“It appears that these two cases are related, as the demands were similar,” said Lt. Juan.

Police blocked the entrance and exits to the Kmart store in Kahului. November 1, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Police blocked the entrance and exits to the Kmart store in Kahului. November 1, 2013. Photo courtesy Luna Carlisle.

Police blocked the entrance and exits to the Kmart store in Kahului. November 1, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Police blocked the entrance and exits to the Kmart store in Kahului. November 1, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.