‘Sucker punch’: $10K in plants stolen from nursery on Oahu’s North Shore

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A north shore plant nursery owner is reeling after 200 plants worth roughly $10,000 were stolen.

Marina Crawford invested countless hours cultivating the exotic plants, making the theft feel like more than just a financial loss.

“For someone to steal something that’s so beautiful and decorative, and kind, and takes a certain knowledge to be able to grow is, it’s just a sucker punch,” Crawford said.

The longtime plant purveyor estimated it will take her business, Viridian and Variegated, several months to recover financially from the loss.

“It takes 2 to 3 months just to get them to have a leaf. Exotic plants are not easily tended to; they require more attention, more humidity,” Crawford said. “You have to have a really good green thumb, a greenhouse and actually good conditions to grow some of these plants.”

After running nurseries across Oahu’s north shore for the past 20 years, Crawford and her family are now in dire need of more plant sales, as money has recently dried up.

“Really trying to grip and keep going with this business. We love plants. I love seeing plants grow and seeing them have new homes,” Crawford said.

The crime also has Crawford feeling unsafe in her own space and considering more security measures.

“I like, listen for gravel crunching all night,” Crawford shared.

Crawford filed a report with the Department of Law Enforcement’s new agricultural crime unit, which has had success recently investigating livestock crimes.

The unit formed after the 2024 shooting death of Makaha rancher Cranston Pia, who confronted trespassers on his land.

“It’s heartbreaking that the crime is still going on,” Kalei Salcedo, Pia’s aunt, said.

You can report ag crimes to the Department of Law Enforcement at (808) 247-3323.