Missing Spear from Kamehameha Statue Recovered

Kamehameha statue spear. Image courtesy Hawaiʻi County police.

By Maui Now Staff

Hawaiʻi Island Police have recovered the section of the spear that was reportedly stolen from the King Kamehameha statue in Hilo at Wailoa State Park over the weekend.

While conducting a search in the overgrowth behind the statue this morning, authorities located and recovered the stolen section of the spear.   Through the investigation, detectives also determined that the section of the spear was forcibly removed from the lower staff section.

The six-foot section of spear was last seen on Saturday, Sept. 5, and was reported missing on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015.

Police detectives with the Department’s Criminal Investigation Section returned to the scene this morning to check the area of overgrowth and also a channel behind the statue.

Assisted by crews aboard the Hawaiʻi Fire Department’s new ladder truck, an evidence specialist was able to gain access to areas of the statue to recover potential evidence.

Police say the spear segment will be processed for any forensic evidence and returned to the statue’s organizers.  Detectives continue to check nearby businesses and buildings for possible video surveillance.

Police continue to ask for the public’s assistance in identifying the responsible individual or individuals in this case to call Detective Sandor Finkey at (808) 961-2384 or email him at [email protected].

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous are asked call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.