GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cyril Pahinui, center, played his koa guitar in April
with his brothers Martin, left, and Bla. The guitar
was one of three stolen from Cyril's home Sunday.

Entertainer Pahinui’s
guitars stolen

---

By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Charmagne Pahinui said she is not interested in prosecuting whoever broke into her home Sunday and stole her husband's guitars. She just wants to get the instruments back.

The burglar or burglars stole three custom-made acoustic guitars from the Waikele home of entertainer Cyril Pahinui, who is touring on the mainland.

"I don't think they knew who they were stealing from," said Charmagne Pahinui.

One guitar, a six-string made of light koa, is valued at $4,000. The hole is off center and is surrounded by turquoise inlay, with more turquoise on the neck. The other two guitars -- another six-string and a 12-string -- are made of graphite and valued at $2,500 and $3,000, respectively.

Also taken was a clock with a picture of legendary island musician Gabby "Pops" Pahinui and a mandolin made for him.

"These are so distinctive I can't imagine how they (burglars) are going to unload this," she said.

Pahinui said she left her house at 6 p.m. Sunday and when she returned 23 minutes later, her home had been ransacked. She is afraid the burglars will return because there are a lot of items they did not take.