Police investigating theft of shotguns, AR-15s from state facility in Makiki, sources say

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Police and state law enforcement officers are investigating the theft of a number of firearms from a state Department of Land and Natural Resources facility in Makiki Heights.

Sources said the items stolen include three revolvers, three shotguns and a couple AR-15s.

“It’s dangerous, very dangerous,” said Hawaii News Now law enforcement expert Tommy Aiu. “It’s a huge danger to the public because of the type of weapons ... in the wrong hands.”

Three cars were also broken into, according to sources. A Polaris off-road vehicle was later recovered.

Hawaii News Now has also learned the facility has no surveillance cameras and the guns were not stored in a secure locker or in a safe.

“DLNR was reckless. ... They just basically have no concerns for security,” said Carroll Cox, an environmental watchdog and frequent DLNR critic.

“Someone needs to answer to this and lose their job because it’s a great breach of security and also a threat to the public.”

DLNR said the Makiki facility is a baseyard for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The agency did confirm firearms were taken, but did not say how many.

In a statement, DLNR said it takes “the issue of gun safety very seriously.”

The stolen weapons were not used by DLNR law enforcement officers but were used for eradication purposes. They’re often used to hunt and cull herds of non-native animals on the Neighbor Islands.

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