There’s been a spike in graffiti, as well as an increase in reports of graffiti vandalism in downtown Hilo.
There’s been a spike in graffiti, as well as an increase in reports of graffiti vandalism in downtown Hilo.
According to police, there were 10 reports of graffiti in Hilo between May 1 and June 16. In comparison, there were three reports in March and two in April.
Meanwhile, numerous other incidents went unreported, police said.
“Whether it’s juveniles, high school kids or older individuals, we don’t know. … We’re just trying to make everybody aware,” Lt. Darren Horio, who leads Hilo’s Community Policing unit, said Wednesday. “If you look at a lot of electrical boxes right now, there’s graffiti with black magic markers and some spray paint.”
“Most of it’s been happening in the downtown business area,” he added.
Jeffrey Mermel, president of the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association, said Wednesday his organization is “painfully aware” of the problem.
“Yes, there’s been an uptick,” Mermel said. “However, it is not limited to downtown. If you drive around Hilo, you’ll see it on these control boxes that Public Works has at all (traffic) signal intersections.”
Graffiti was an agenda item at Wednesday night’s HDIA board meeting, Mermel said.
“Our strategy is to immediately paint over it, to discourage these folks and to not give them the impression that we don’t care. Because we really do care,” he said. “We’re putting the message out to every property owner to immediately paint over it. That’s the first thing.”
Mermel said HDIA is partnering with the county to stem the tide of tagging. That includes the police, who he said are “putting in a lot of time investigating” the incidents, plus the mayor’s office and the Public Works Traffic Division, who Mermel describes as the “gold standard” in dealing with the defacement.
“They paint over (graffiti) right away. And if it gets tagged, they paint over it again,” he said.
Mermel also praised the efforts of Goodwill Industries’ Aina Keepers program.
“What Aina Keepers does is to work with people who are physically challenged. It trains them and gives them work opportunities. When Aina Keepers gets reports of graffiti, they go out and paint over it,” he said.
“What we’re really about is beautification,” Mermel continued. “… We intend to be re-painting the planter boxes downtown. We intend to be doing some more beautiful landscaping. So when something like this comes along, we have to put out this fire, if you will.
“The main thing is to nip it in the bud.”
Legally, graffiti is criminal property damage, which, for adults, is a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail. Parents or guardians of juveniles found responsible for graffiti can be held liable for monetary damages, police said.
Those whose property has been defaced are asked to report the damage to police for documentation and then remove the graffiti as soon as possible.
“If you see it, make sure you make a report,” Horio said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of graffiti around that people don’t want to bother the police with or whatever. But report it so we can address it.”
Anyone with information about the persons responsible for graffiti in Hilo is asked to contact Community Policing Officer Gavin Kagimoto at 961-8121 or gkagimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.