MOILIILI, Hawaii (KHON2) — An Oahu cemetery has once again fallen victim to vandalism and the acts are leaving loved ones, area residents and volunteers frustrated while they search for answers.
The caretaker of Moiliili Japanese Cemetery said she has had a rough start to the week — there have been back-to-back-to-back nights of vandalism on gravesites that have similar characteristics to damage that was reported back in October 2023.
“The damage is so sad because it looks like he is going to break the haka to get inside to get the bronze urns,” said Moiliili Cemetery Association President Laura Ruby. “Oshiro, that’s over in section A, had quite a number of urns and they’re gone.”
Ann Nakata visits and maintains the cemetery and said two of her mom’s siblings were buried in Moiliili. She said damage to other sites is heartbreaking.
“They were infants, so it’s over a hundred years,” Nakata said. “I get upset when the graves are vandalized because it just causes additional unnecessary expenses to repair them.”
Volunteers at the cemetery said eight sites have been damaged in the past three days. They have been working with law enforcement but asked the surrounding community to help them keep an eye out.
“People that are in their condominiums up high or their apartment buildings up high, anytime you hear the noise of a hammer, please, please call 911 right away,” Ruby said.
“Please call 911 if and get a description of the perpetrators,” Nakata said.
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Honolulu police said an investigation into the desecration is ongoing and they asked anyone with information or video of the area to get in touch with authorities.