Hawaiian Airlines faces tough questions after baggage handlers arrested

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The three Hawaiian Airlines baggage handlers arrested for allegedly stealing officers' guns from checked baggage worked at Kahului Airport for nearly a decade, officials say.

The employees have been identified as 29-year-old Jarrett Nanod, 28-year-old Kahai Lindsey and 52-year-old Carey Feig. All three are on leave without pay.

Since Hawaii News Now first reported the story over the weekend, several residents have come forward to say they've also been the victims of theft from Hawaiian Airlines checked baggage.

Last week, Vernon Ikeda returned to Kahului Airport after a trip to Oahu with his wife. The couple picked up their two checked bags, but it wasn't until they got home they realized someone had looted their cooler with $200 worth of dried aku inside.

"I opened up the cooler to take everything out. One of the bags of fish and half the other bag of fish was gone," Ikeda said.

What was left was half eaten and had to be thrown away. The thief also swiped $120 worth of brand new fish hooks.

"I made the claim report that night as soon as I found out," Ikeda said.

After several days of haggling, Hawaiian Airlines reimbursed Ikeda $50 for his checked bags and gave him 50,000 miles.

Ikeda says during the process the adjuster did ask a question that struck him as odd inquiring how long it took for the cooler to get to the carousel.

Ikeda said it was one of the last pieces of luggage out.

"If Hawaiian Airlines is going to charge that much for baggage, I would suggest that they be more stringent with security of the baggage," he said.

In the wake of the arrests, Hawaiian Airlines officials said all employees undergo criminal background checks.

In July, 2,397 reports of lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered bags were filed with Hawaiian Airlines. That averages out to three reports per 1,000 passengers, a number nearly identical to the same time last year.

Hawaiian Airlines officials could not provide Kahului Airport-specific statistics.

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