HONOLULU (KHON2) — A recent vehicle theft is leading some to ask if anything is sacred anymore.
A marked New Hope Oahu van was stolen from a church leader’s home on Monday, July 28.
The van is supposed to transport passengers and equipment to and from New Hope Oahu, but it went missing Monday morning. The vehicle was parked at a private residence in Waipio Gentry when someone made off with it.
“It’s interesting that someone saw a van, our van, with our church name on it and thought nothing of it to steal it,” said New Hope Oahu operations pastor Kyle Lum.
The church said this is not the first time it has dealt with crime. Quite the security system has been installed in recent years.
“But that, that phrase, ‘Nothing sacred,’ has never been more prevalent than today. Not only do churches have fences and gates, but we have, our own church, has security camera systems and alarms,” Lum said.
Honolulu police crime statistics show there have been over 1,400 vehicles stolen on Oahu in 2025 — that averages out to almost seven vehicle thefts every single day.
“Stolen motor vehicles is one of the most common posts that we have in the group, you know, and you’d be surprised because you would think on an island that you know,” said Stolen Stuff Hawaii founder Michael Kitchens, “there’s nowhere to go, where do you take these things?”
Kitchens said this type of theft is bad enough, but the contents inside the vehicle can be just as much of a loss. The stolen New Hope Oahu van had thousands of dollars of hand tools and lumber for ongoing projects.
“Take a picture of your vehicle front, back. You know, just have it in reference because you wouldn’t believe how many times people come to post as, like, ‘Ah, I don’t have a picture of my vehicle,’” Kitchens said. “Use all the deterrents you can, such as the locks on the wheels, in the end, the best hope is that you just make it to where their interest goes somewhere else.”
Church leaders hope the community stays on the lookout and not just when it comes to property.
“And I use a verse that says Jesus said, ‘Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as gentle as lambs, but shrewd as serpents.’ And like I said, vigilance is key,” Lum said.
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Anyone who spots the stolen van should report it to Honolulu police.