HILO, Hawaii (KITV4) -- DLNR arrested a Hilo man Sunday for violations against Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), after he was observed planting coconut trees in a public park.
Gene Tamashiro was arrested by DLNR DOCARE officers for planting around 165 keiki coconut palms at the Wailoa River State Recreation Area.
He was charged with 1) Destruction/Disturbance of Geological Features without a Permit and 2) Planting/introducing new plants.
According to DOCARE reports, Tamashiro and 15 others convened at Bishop Street, and appeared to be planting the palm trees on the park grounds. Officers then observed Tamashiro excavating the ground and planting the trees near the Kamehameha Statue.
Tamashiro posted the planting and his arrest on the Aloha Nation Live Facebook page.
Tameshiro has been citied or arrested four times in nine years.
In 2013, Tamashiro and several others were cited following an illegal planting operation in the park.
In Jan. 2021, the 65-year-old man, was again cited for three HAR violations for planting several hundred plants. DLNR State Parks crews removed illegally planted taro and banana trees at that time.
Ten days later, on Jan. 17, 2021, he was arrested at Iolani Palace after scaling and jumping the fence, after being denied permission to gather with supporters to mark the anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The palace and its grounds were closed on Sundays at that time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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