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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Saturday, May 10, 2003

Grateful officers thank Hau'ula with free party

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

Sheriff's Deputy Darryl Ng serves up treats to Hau'ula Elementary School first-graders during a thank-you party for the community, which was supportive during the search for prison escapees in the area.

Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

HAU'ULA — As police searched the Hau'ula hillside for three escaped prisoners last month, the community came out in full support of the officers, bringing food, donating drinks and cooking them meals. Yesterday, grateful law enforcement personnel returned the gesture.

Music played, kids danced, cake and ice cream were served and the K-9 division and special forces put on demonstrations as the state's sheriff division and the Honolulu Police Department threw a thank-you party for Hau'ula and its elementary school for feeding them, allowing police to park on their lawns, providing electricity hook- ups and making room for a command center.

Officers had never seen such generosity, said Lt. Frank Dela Rosa, who was one of up to 100 people the community fed daily. It wasn't just meals, Dela Rosa said. "The kitchen," as he referred to the community effort, was open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. serving coffee and snacks as well.

"They gave from the heart and that's what moved us to come back," he said.

It was a day full of good feelings and gratitude, and even a donation to Hau'ula Elementary School, with awards and recognition for those who helped in ways big and small.

Pat Plunkett Jr. had provided police with one of the biggest breaks in the case.

Police and sheriffs first knew the escapees were in the hills off Ma'akua Gulch Trail on April 6 after Plunkett, 32, encountered the men while hunting alone with his dogs.

Plunkett said there were telltale slide marks along the trail that neither hunters nor experienced hikers would make. That told him there were amateurs in the vicinity. His dogs reached the escapees before him and that caused a commotion among them, he said.

"When I could see them there were all skittish already," Plunkett said yesterday. "They were startled, caught off guard."

But Plunkett didn't recognize them right away and it wasn't until they tried to lure him closer that he backed off, he said, adding that he could hear them plotting and realized who they must be.

"They said they saw a pig behind their camp and for me to check it out," Plunkett said. "It was a ploy to sucker me in so they could jump me or something."

Plunkett said he pulled out his two-way radio and pretended to call fellow hunters, telling them he found some hikers and he would go to another valley. The radio doesn't really work in the valley but they didn't know that, he said.

Plunkett said he called his wife and the police and later took officers to where he encountered the escapees. He and other pig hunters also helped police later in the week when it became apparent the escapees were on the move, he said.

Thomas Hefferman, 54, and Brian Akina, 29, were two other hunters recognized for their efforts.

People who gave food, helped with the search or contributed in other ways were recognized by the police and state representatives. The school received a special plaque from the City Council and individuals were given certificates of recognition.

Hundreds of people attended the Hau'ula party, including Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, Police Chief Lee Donohue, state Department of Public Safety interim director James Propotnick, Hau'ula political representatives, City Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz, Sen. Melodie Aduja and Rep. Colleen Meyer.

About 100 police officers and sheriffs were also there, and kids scampered after some of them, collecting autographs. One student asked to get the pawprint of one of the trained dogs.

The entertainment by Kapena and Danny Kaleikini, who also served as master of ceremonies, was donated, along with party favors, Dela Rosa said. The crews that worked the search details and their fellow workers collected nearly $600 to donate to Hau'ula Elementary. Kaleikini surprised everyone by matching the donation.

School principal Bradley Odagiri said four school staff members organized the first meal for the search party after learning that none of them had had a meal break for 24 hours. Many officers were buying whatever they could find at the local 7-Eleven, Odagiri said.

Mary Shores, Julene Kawaauhau, Brenda Sauni and Zeni Iese took charge of the first meal, he said. It was their way of showing how they appreciated the officers keeping the community safe, Odagiri said.

But people kept donating food, and one meal led to another. Soon organizations such as the Polynesian Cultural Center and Brigham Young UniversityiHawai'i pitched in by providing dinners. And throughout the week people kept dropping off prepared food, he said.

"The community is always there when you need them," Odagiri said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.