This election season, thousands of dollars worth of political signs have been stolen, defaced or otherwise trashed at an alarming rate from people's homes and private property.
Numerous signs from both candidates for mayor of Honolulu, Duke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann, as well as state representatives and presidential candidates have not been spared.
As of yet, no thieves have been apprehended.
Democrats seem to yell the loudest, yet in terms of total number of candidates, it appears that Republicans have been victims much more frequently (with the exception of the mayor's race, which is "non-partisan").
But recently, on Primary Election day in late September, an amazing thing happened. One of the "criminals" was caught in the act -- and caught on film.
Most interestingly, the culprit, Mike Golojuch Jr., is a frequent letter writer and spokesperson for his version of civil rights and free speech. He was caught stealing the signs of Rep. Mark Moses, R-Kapolei, for which Moses reported him to the police and filed a complaint.
Most relevant, Mike Golojuch Jr., who ran for state House in 2002, is the son of the woman who is currently the opponent of Moses in the state House race to represent Kapolei.
Moses is a Republican representing Kapolei for several years, and Carolyn Golojuch, a Democrat, is his only opponent in the Nov. 2, 2004, General Election.
Pictures of the suspect in action are seen below.
Meanwhile, Moses and his son, who are standing nearby waving to motorists passing by in traditional Hawaiian campaign style, ask Mike Golojuch Jr. to give the political signage back, but he refuses saying they are on public property, and then drives away, laughing at the Moses family. That photo also is included.
This is not the first time Mike Golojuch Jr. has stolen Moses' signs, according to Moses, who filed a police report about the incident (see him calling the police in the final picture) and says since Mike Golojuch Jr. has "taunted" him about so far going unpunished for the brazen acts.
The Golojuch family has a controversial history in Hawaii.
The mother and son are extreme liberal Democrats (even when they were members of the Republican Party of Hawaii) who promote gay, transsexual and lesbian rights to the detriment of other groups.
They are some of the few members of the anti-God Hawaii Coalition for the Separation of State and Church and fight to have Christian symbols removed from public places, including where people died and loved ones left reminders, such as in Sacred Falls on Mother's Day 10 years ago when a number of hikers died tragically in a rock slide.
The family members -- including son, mother and father -- take turns running for office each election cycle. In 2002, all three were candidates in local political races.
Reach Malia Zimmerman, editor and president of Hawaii Reporter, via email atmailto:Malia@hawaiireporter.com
