Largely done in black spray paint or black marker, the defacing markings were showing up on walls fronting houses, street signs, utility boxes and even a bridge, said Sgt. David Silva of the police Juvenile Section.

Much of the tagging stopped earlier this year, he said, following a police investigation that led to the arrest of an 18-year-old man and the questioning of six others. They admitted being responsible for 113 of 119 documented graffiti cases in Central and South Maui since November, Silva told the Maui News.

The suspects — four adults and three juveniles ranging in age from 16 to 21 — included five people who were part of a group using the moniker that was showing up on the graffiti, Silva said. He said the two others were friends who also admitted being responsible for graffiti. All are Central Maui residents.

At least $20,000 in damages was done by the taggers, who could face felony charges for criminal property damage, he said. Police are completing reports that will be sent to the prosecutor's office for action.

"We have such a beautiful community that we're not going to let individuals deface it and turn it into something that we don't want to see," Silva said.

While some of the cases of graffiti were reported to police patrol officers by homeowners, other incidents were documented by juvenile officer Dale Corpuz who investigated after seeing graffiti as he drove along roads and through neighborhoods.

"He should be commended on his investigation and the work he put into it," Silva said.

Graffiti targets included stop signs, mailboxes, telephone and electrical utility boxes, shopping centers and walls fronting houses. The graffiti showed up on county, state and private property.

Of the 119 documented graffiti cases, 92 were in Central Maui and 27 were in Kihei. All but six were solved with the arrests, Silva said.

He said a break in the case occurred when surveillance video taken on March 18 showed a male on Church Street in Wailuku about the time a Maui Electric Co. box was vandalized in the area.

Police juvenile counselor Keith Moniz took the surveillance photo to Maui High School, where the youth was recognized and identified as an 18-year-old, Silva said.

The suspect was arrested for second-degree criminal property damage and questioned before being released pending further investigation. The arrest led to the identification of the six others suspected of being involved in the graffiti.

Corpuz took the suspects to vandalized areas and had them identify what they had done, Silva said.

Along with investigating to identify culprits, police are helping clean up the graffiti, using juveniles who are doing community service as part of their participation in the Maui Police Department Project POI intervention program for first-time juvenile offenders. The youths doing the cleanup aren't the ones responsible for the graffiti.

"Not only are we trying to determine who are doing the graffiti, we are cleaning it up also," Silva said.

He said some defaced signs have had to be replaced and some walls have had to be repainted to cover markings. Other graffiti have been removed with solvent.

Silva said the public can help by calling police or Maui Crime Stoppers if they see someone vandalizing an area with graffiti. If possible, callers should give a description of the person and any vehicle license plate number.

Calls can be made to police at (808) 244-6400 or the Juvenile Section at (808) 244-6487.

Callers to the Maui CrimeStoppers hot line at (808) 242-6966 remain anonymous and are given code numbers. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of people responsible for felony crimes.