Canoe-building tool theft story has a happy ending

Thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment that are used to teach Hawaii children the art of building koa canoes and making their own canoe paddles at Heeia State Park, the Star-Advertiser reported on Jan. 13.

"I hope that whoever took it feels real bad," Alana Burrows, a board member and founder of the nonprofit Puakea Foundation of Hawaii Inc., which works to preserve Pacific Island canoe culture, told the newspaper.

The group was formed around the ongoing work of "Uncle Bobby" Puakea, the former head coach of the Lanikai Canoe Club who was given a proclamation in 2003 by the City Council for his commitment to preserving the art and traditions of Hawaiian canoe building.

A donation of a Matson shipping container to the foundation two months ago to store dozens of power tools and hand tools meant that the 70-year-old Puakea no longer had to haul equipment in his van to and from Heeia State Park five days a week. But on Jan. 3, he discovered the lock missing to
the 20-foot container and the door ajar.

"First I noticed the generator missing," Puakea said. "Then I saw I was missing carving tools, grinders, power saws." He believes the theft was the work of more than one person, given the size of the equipment and the number of items stolen. Many of the tools are used by children to learn how to make paddles and carve koa canoes – grinders, routers, extension cords, sanders, saws – in all tools worth $2,000 to $3,000.

Puakea's work came to a standstill, but the Star-Advertiser story opened the floodgates and put him back in business. In response to his plight, people began donating electric sanders, power saws and other tools, including three Makita planers and a generator. Well-wishers also sent money to his foundation to buy new tools. The donations have come from friends and total strangers in and outside of Hawaii. One man in Connecticut made a $1,000 matching pledge.

"The matching is overwhelming. I've been matched about ten times, I think," Puakea said.