Posted on: Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Farmers unite to tackle thefts

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

O'ahu farmers facing a growing concern about theft of their crops and equipment have united to pursue solutions through legislators, police and a network of farmers across the island.

In light of the fatal shooting Sept. 7 of an alleged thief near a Kahuku farm on Malaekahana Road, some 250 people gathered Sunday night to discuss the incident, in which a Laotian farmer was accused of killing a man with a shotgun.

Police said Khamxath Baccam shot Marcelino Pacheco, 38, because Baccam believed Pacheco had been stealing equipment and produce from Baccam's farm.

Baccam, 48, is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. today in District Court on a charge of second-degree murder.

The shooting has shaken up the farming community that has been a victim of constant thefts, and the meeting gave people a chance to acknowledge their fears and recognize that something needs to be done, said Nara Sihavong, a volunteer for the Hawai'i American Laotian Farmers Association.

"The farmers were saying this was a good meeting. We were able to sit along with fellow farmers and recognize that everybody is experiencing the same situation," Sihavong said. "And now we come together as one voice."

Sihavong said language and culture make it challenging for Laotian farmers to report crimes to police, as well as to deal with issues such as taxes and regulations.

But the farmers came away from the meeting hopeful that help is available through state Rep. Michael Magaoay, Sen. Melody Aduja and the Hawai'i Farm Bureau Federation, he said.

The Hawai'i Farm Bureau Federation can be a conduit between the farmer, the police and legislators, said Alan Takemoto, executive director of the farm bureau.

"We are going to revisit the ag theft law and see where we need to strengthen it," Takemoto said. "We'll try to bring the police and the Laotian farmers in that area together to see what can be done as far as farm watches."

Aduja, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), said she wanted to research how other agricultural states deal with the issue to see if their laws can apply in Hawai'i.

Farmers have few other options, other than security systems that can cost thousands of dollars a month, Aduja said.

You Soukaseum, a Kahuku farmer who organized the meeting, said theft can be a daily problem for farmers, and he loses $3,000 to $4,000 a year to thieves. On Friday morning before the meeting, Soukaseum said he spotted a pickup truck with four guys who appeared to be carrying rifles. But he couldn't tell if they were hunters or thieves, he said.

"Everybody worry," he said.

Soukaseum said he hoped everyone could work together to resolve the problem, because farmers don't make much and they rely on their products to support their families.

"We just want say, we can take care of ourself, don't let our people go to welfare," he said.

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