Break-in warnings posted at lookouts

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

Signs warning drivers that their cars might be broken into at the Halona Blowhole and Lana'i Lookout have gone up after all.

The city parks department nixed the idea this year despite support from area neighborhood boards and police, saying that posting such signs at some stops and not at others could cause liability problems.

But police Maj. Bart Huber, commander of the police district that includes the two tourist spots, said board members had lobbied their City Council representatives, who urged the parks department to erect the signs.

"After further pressure was brought to bear by citizens and politicians, the city agreed to put up the signs — at least on a temporary basis," Huber said.

He said it would be up to police to determine whether the signs cut down on car break-ins.

"My understanding is that the signs were to be posted in an area where they can be seen by tourists to warn them of car break-ins, but were supposed to be erected in a way so as not to detract from the island's natural beauty," Huber said.

"After a while, we'll take a look and see if they should stay up or come down," Huber said.

At the city's Hanauma Bay park, the signs have been up for about two months, said Martha McDaniel, a recreation specialist.

"There are three at the Blowhole and two at Lana'i Lookout," McDaniel said. "We put in a request with the city's sign shop in Manana, and they just suddenly appeared."

Nevertheless, the Blowhole and Lana'i lookouts continue to attract thieves determined to prey on rental cars.

Huber said that on Sunday a police District 7 watch commander was driving past Lana'i Lookout when he noticed three men standing by a car, acting suspiciously. A few minutes earlier, a tourist from Baltimore had reported his car broken into at Blowhole and his property taken.

The watch commander parked behind the car at Lana'i Lookout and radioed for assistance. Responding officers found items in the car that matched those reported stolen a few minutes before at Blowhole.

Police took the Baltimore man to Lana'i Lookout, where he identified the items. Three O'ahu men — ages 21, 23 and 29 — were arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle. All three had prior arrests, and one had six arrests on various charges.

Reach David Waite at 525-7412 or dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.