STAR-BULLETIN / 2001
Two of three Haleiwa signs have been stolen since 2001. The sign at the Wahiawa end of town was taken on Sept. 23.
Haleiwa signs
keep disappearingResidents say the signs are
important for drawing tourists
into the North Shore town
Thieves have stolen two of the three signs welcoming motorists to Haleiwa, and George Atkins says the North Shore town feels victimized.
CORRECTION
Thursday, Oct. 09, 2003: 1 Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2003: 21 >> In yesterday's Page A3 story about Haleiwa's stolen signs, the name of Lt. Stanford Afong of the Wahiawa Police Station was misspelled as Sanford Afong.
2 >> The name of Carole Beller, who created three Haleiwa signs posted along the bypass road, was misspelled as Carole Bellar in a story on Page A3 Wednesday.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
"It's a most cowardly act that deprives the community of its symbol of pride, identity and joy," said Atkins, owner of the Haleiwa Art Gallery and Oceans in Glass. "It's being violated. It's the same feeling that people get when their house is burglarized."
A big wooden sign with polyurethane coating at the Wahiawa end of the Haleiwa bypass was reported stolen Sept. 23. It and the one at the Waimea side were stolen in July 1996, but later recovered after publicity resulted in an anonymous tip.
They were reinstalled at their original locations.
In March 2001, the sign at the middle of the bypass was stolen and never found.
Now only one sign remains standing at the Waimea end.
Some community members say the signs are considered landmarks for one of the best-known surfing communities in the world. Some have asked for the sign to be returned, noting that the theft primarily has hurt merchants who rely on the tourism industry to survive.
"The tourists love them. They're always stopping at the end of town and taking pictures in front of the sign," said Antya Miller, administrator of the North Shore Community Chamber of Commerce.
"I find it very difficult to understand why they would do that kind of thing," Miller said.
Atkins said he believes that a large four-wheeled pickup truck pulled the sign down from the metal posts with a rope, based on the marks he observed on the ground.
"The posts broke off," he said. "It's a real loss to the community."
Lt. Sanford Afong of the Wahiawa Police Station said: "We've been told that there were witnesses and are asking them to come forward."
In 1996, community businesses and residents contributed $15,000 for the design and installation of the three signs.
Atkins said he hopes that whoever stole the sign returns it to the community.
"We just want the sign back. We're not going to ask any questions," he said.
Joe Lazar, owner of Haleiwa Joe's Seafood and Grill, said the signs represent Haleiwa and draw tourists to help support the community.
"I think it's pretty selfish because the entire community in one way or another relies on tourism," said Lazar.
"It's disheartening," said former North Shore resident Carole Bellar, who created the signs. "It hurts our businesses and we want it back."
The sign is about 5 feet high and 8 feet wide. It was welded to metal posts.
Anyone with information on the stolen sign is asked to call Lt. Afong at the Wahiawa Police Station at 621-0785, ext. 236. Calls can be made anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
