Posted on: Thursday, August 26, 2004

Reward doubled with rise in cane field arson

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

PU'UNENE, Maui — Hammered by a second straight summer of deliberately set cane fires, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. has more than doubled its cash reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible, to $25,000.

"These fires put our employees in harm's way," said HC&S General Manager Stephen Holaday, noting that it is very different fighting a fire in a field that has not been prepared for harvesting.

"We've been very fortunate that the impacts have been limited to property damage and significant business losses, but the potential exists for either HC&S personnel or county firefighters to be injured, and that would be both a real tragedy and a crime," he said.

Maui police say they are concerned about the increase in arson this summer, and are asking people to report any suspicious activity that might be related.

The latest arson fires occurred over the weekend, when the main building of the old Maui High School in Hamakuapoko burned and embers ignited a nearby cane field, charring 10 acres for a $30,000 loss.

Another deliberately set fire near the abandoned high school on the same day burned another 10 acres of cane, fire officials said. Two people were arrested in connection with that fire, but were subsequently ruled out as suspects, said police Lt. Chad Viela.

Lt. John Jakubczak of the Criminal Investigation Division said investigators had not yet established a clear pattern for the growing number of suspiciously set fires, as they have been started across Maui's Central Valley, from Kihei to the north shore and from Kahului to the Upcountry region.

Many of the arson fires occur nights, weekends and holidays, Jakubczak said. "It's not just the work of one person. We think others are involved."

Bobby Motooka, HC&S safety manager, said at least 10 maliciously set fires have burned 220 acres of sugar cane this year, causing more than $300,000 damage. Last year, seven arson fires blackened almost 860 acres of sugar cane, causing more than $500,000 in losses.

Jakubczak said anyone with information should call the Maui Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (808) 244-6425 or Maui Crime Stoppers at (808) 242-6966. Crime Stoppers pays up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for felony crimes.

The HC&S reward program was extended to include information leading to the recovery of farming equipment and supplies stolen from its fields and offices, Motooka said. Anyone with information on the fires or thefts can call the HC&S Reward Program at (808) 244-7572.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.