It was a strange scene: a dozen law enforcement officials, clad in bullet-proof vests on the side of Kuhio Highway just north of Kapa‘a on a Wednesday morning. Dozens of cars slowed down to take a look at the group,
It was a strange scene: a dozen law enforcement officials, clad in bullet-proof vests on the side of Kuhio Highway just north of Kapa‘a on a Wednesday morning.
Dozens of cars slowed down to take a look at the group, who were huddled on the Mauka side of the highway just north of Kawaihau Road, at around 7:30 a.m.,
The officials geared up for a mission, it turns out, to clear a man from unencumbered state land.
According to Gary Moniz, enforcement chief of the state Department of Conservation and Resource Enforcement, the officials were DOCARE officers joined by KPD to evict someone from an illegal dwelling who was squatting on state land.
“We requested additional officers because the brush was thick and we wanted to check what was in the area,” Moniz said yesterday. “We didn’t know what to expect; we were just being careful.”
According to Moniz, the law enforcement officials went into the brush, found a person there, and requested that he or she leave. Moniz said he would not give details into the identity of the individual. The person was cooperative and no arrests were made, Moniz continued.
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252).
