Witness describes acts
of vandalism at ranch

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- A Molokai Ranch official says Clarence H. Kaopuiki displayed his anger at the ranch's development of campsites.

"He was angry and upset and stuck a knife in a picnic table," ranch vice president Harold Edwards told a Maui Circuit jury yesterday.

Edwards said it came during a County Council tour in Maunaloa about nine months after the destruction of a water pipeline. He said later during the tour of the campsite, Kaopuiki picked up a large rock and threw it on the ground, breaking a steppingstone.

Kaopuiki, 43, is on trial for allegedly burning Kiewit Pacific construction trailers in 1994 and a ranch beach house in 1995. Kaopuiki also is charged with destroying five miles of water pipeline in 1996.

Michael D. Perreira, 46, a co-defendant, is charged with vandalizing the pipeline.

Both men have pleaded not guilty.

The trial was scheduled to resume today.

'He was angry and upset and
stuck a knife in a picnic table.'

Harold Edwards
MOLOKAI RANCH VICE PRESIDENT,
AT TRIAL OF VANDALISM SUSPECT
CLARENCE H. KAOPUIKI

During a trial last year, Perreira's brother-in-law, Walter Ritte Jr., 54, was found not guilty of damaging the pipeline.

Jurors were unable to arrive at a verdict on whether Ritte allegedly burned the beach house. Ritte is awaiting retrial on the charge.

The prosecution alleges Kaopuiki told his brother-in-law, Glen Len Wai, about the acts of vandalism.

Edwards, in charge of water development for the ranch, said his company paid about $894,000 to fix a water pipeline.

He said the damage was extensive, affecting many small businesses, including ranchers, and took about six to seven months to repair.

"It basically appeared to have been beaten by a sledgehammer on every joint," Edwards said.