Man in store attic accused of stealing $60,000 in jewelry

WAILUKU — A man who was found in the attic of a Lahaina jewelry store was arrested Thursday for allegedly burglarizing the business and stealing nearly $60,000 in jewelry.

Isaiah Makaiwi, 45, of Lahaina was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, first-degree theft and fourth-degree criminal property damage.

The burglaries occurred Wednesday and Thursday at Lahaina Gems at 867 Front St., according to a complaint filed against Makaiwi.

He was seen on surveillance entering the rear office area of the store by its attic stairs around 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, according to a declaration filed in court to support the charges. Surveillance also showed Makaiwi taking items from an office shelf and hiding them in his pocket before going back into the attic, according to the declaration.

At 10:41 a.m. the next day, after an alarm activated at the business, the owner reported finding Makaiwi in the attic. When the owner confronted Makaiwi, he fled through a hole that the wall air conditioning unit was mounted in, according to the declaration.

The owner reported that $59,808 in jewelry, including gemstones, watches, rings, pendants and chains and earrings, was stolen.

“To the defendant’s credit, he did surrender $30,000 in jewelry,” Deputy Prosecutor Jeffery Temas said during Makaiwi’s initial appearance Friday in Lahaina District Court convening in Wailuku.

Temas asked that Makaiwi’s bail be increased from $7,000 to $20,000.

Deputy Public Defender Mariana Lowy-Gerstmar asked for Makaiwi to be released on supervision. “He was forthcoming and he helped the police in this investigation,” she said.

Judge Blaine Kobayashi denied the request for supervised release based on the seriousness of the charges. He set bail at $9,500 for Makaiwi.

He was ordered to stay away from Lahaina Gems and its owner. If he posts bail to be released, Makaiwi was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs and to report for supervision and random testing. He also was ordered to seek and maintain mental health treatment.