Stolen Hawaiian feather helmet still missing; can you identify person in image?

Investigators with the National Park Service are continuing their probe into the theft of a contemporary replica of a traditional Hawaiian feather helmet from a hotel at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and are asking the public to help identify a person of interest wanted for questioning in the case.

At about 11:45 p.m. Jan. 13, the mahiole replica, a helmet worn by high-ranking Hawaiian chiefs and painstakingly crafted using feathers and native fibers such as the roots of the ‘ie‘ie vine, was stolen from the Volcano House. An image from one of the hotel’s surveillance cameras shows a man carrying a large item beneath a red cloth in front of the hotel’s front desk. The person of interest appears to be a man wearing a dark ball cap and bandana face covering.

A woman seen in a separate surveillance image reached out to investigators and is no longer a person of interest.

The stolen mahiole replica was created by renowned local artist Rick San Nicolas, who sold it to the hotel several years ago. It was displayed in a clear case near the hotel’s front desk and featured brightly dyed crimson and yellow goose feathers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the National Park Service by calling or texting 888-653-0009. Tips can also be submitted online or via email at nps_isb@nps.gov.