LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department is currently investigating an incident involving an unauthorized small plane from Maui that dropped off two passengers in Kaua‘i on Sunday.
Assistant Chief Mark Begley said the Hawai‘i National Guard alerted the KPD of the aircraft’s arrival at Port Allen Airport around 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 3. Aircrafts are currently not authorized to unload passengers at this airport, and National Guard members provided police with a description of the two travelers, their vehicle and aircraft, Begley said.
The passengers were pulled over on Kaumualii Highway driving toward Lihu‘e claiming to have an authorized travel restriction exception, which the KPD is currently investigating.
KPD has identified the aircraft and pilot, which originated Kahului, Maui. Both are under investigation, Begley said.
A similar event happened in April at the Princeville Airport, a privately-owned airport which Lihu‘e Airport’s air traffic control does not monitor.
On April 22, a chartered flight from Honolulu arrived unannounced with four passengers in Princeville.
“KPD was able to locate and identify those individuals, and verify their compliance with the travel and quarantine restrictions,” Begley said. KPD was able to confirm that this flight filled out all the proper travel paperwork before leaving O‘ahu.
This first event put officers on the defense. “After this incident, the Hawaii National Guard and KPD began monitoring all aircraft activity at both the Princeville and Port Allen Airports,” Begley said.
Mayor Derek Kawakami described the May 3 Port Allen event during his COVID-19 Daily Update Monday afternoon.
“Our police department and National Guard and Kaua‘i Visitor Bureau have gone above and beyond in their efforts to ensure that incoming visitors here on Kaua‘i are following quarantine rules,” Kawakami said. “Unfortunately, there are still folks out there who are trying to circumvent the system.”
Koward kami,Abercrombie Lap Dog?
Just another Tool?
i bet if you flew in several homeless people and feral cats, they would be greeted with open arms !
Why would you ever say anything so utterly unhelpful? just to be hyperbolic?
Alert Barking Sands. Shoot them down! They’re carrying biological weapons imported from China! 😉
Gee I hope they didn’t come here to “make a difference” like that lady last month whose idea of making a difference was to add to the homeless camp population.
It’ embarrassing for Maui. I quote Mayor Victorino of Maui, “knuckle heads!”
Why did KPD wait until they (Maui’s Personnel) travelled on Kaumualii Highway? Why didn’t they(KPD) catch them at Port Allen Air field?
How come those donkeys weren’t arrested?
How come we don’t know the names of these people? Why is it so secretive?
Because there is an INVESTIGATION taking place. The article states this. Why are people not aware that police departments don’t usually release information about people when there is an active investigation? This is the second time I’ve seen someone make a comment like this just in the last week.