CAPTAIN COOK — Alika Kinimaka just got out of church Christmas Day when he learned his family’s business in Captain Cook had been broken into and ransacked.
“They broke a picture of our mom, which was the most upsetting thing,” Kinimaka said Wednesday at Qina Girl Floral, where he designs arrangements.
The suspects broke in through a bottom window. A few vases also were broken and the office area was trashed. Kinimaka thought it looked like they were looking for anywhere there might be money.
The suspect(s) only made out with a Bluetooth speaker and a cash register with $20 in it.
“They were just angry and wanted to make a mess,” Kinimaka said.
The floral shop was one of at least two other businesses damaged in Captain Cook. A vandalism report also was made on Sunday at Hope Chapel Kona located Makua Lani Christian Academy’s high school campus after seven windows were broken out and two buildings were spray painted. Nothing was stolen.
On Wednesday, the school principal, Sandy Butler, was walking the grounds. She said the actions of the suspect(s) were “brazen.”
Despite the overwhelming damage, the church community came together and cleaned up the auditorium for Christmas Eve service.
Hawaii Police Department’s Maj. Robert Wagner said it looks like the perpetrators weren’t out to steal anything — “they were just out to damage things.”
“Just to happen is unusual,” Wagner said about the damage. “Random vandalism is unusual.”
At least two other businesses reported damage to their establishments on Christmas Day — Captain Cook Mini Mart and Fil-Am General Store.
Fil-Am General Store is located next to the floral shop, and had damage to an outside window. However, on the other side, the window was blocked by shelves and a heavy desk, which the owner thinks kept the suspect(s) from getting in.
Cionie Mangayam, owner of the store, heard about the damage on Christmas morning.
“I was just shaking, crying,” she said.
When she came to her store to see the damage, Mangayam said, police were already there. She eventually learned her store suffered superficial damage.
“I was just very thankful,” she said Wednesday. “I definitely had angels watching over this store.”
Just a few miles down the road a police report of vandalism was taken at the Captain Cook Mini Mart. David Park, owner of the store, also discovered one of his windows was broken out on Christmas Day.
“I’m lucky they broke the small one,” Park said Wednesday about the damage.
Again, nothing was taken — just a rock thrown through a window.
“I never thought of it happening here,” Park said. “This is a nice neighborhood and on Christmas Day. Unbelievable.”
Despite the break-in, Kinimaka said he prays for the suspect(s) because they are probably hurting.
“We’re just blessed no one was hurt and nothing of value was taken,” he added.
Anyone with information about the break-in and/or vandalisms should call the Hawaii Police Department nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.
