Fourty Thieves

"A Makawao scrub was taken into custody Tuesday to serve six months in jail for his part in the break in of a tourists rental car in Paia town. Ryan Shitbata, 18 also was placed on five years of probation. He pleaded no contest to first degree breaking and entering a motor vehicle and second degree theft. He and two other males were involved in this theft." (Maui News paper, 09/21/08) I know who this person is, he used to live down the street from me. He is part of an up country wanna be gang. My friends and myself know them as the Forty Thieves. These young pups are organized drug dealers and thieves. This groups members are responsible for many up country house break-ins. Their house thefts were mostly in Makawao and Kula. This group is involved with the purchase and selling of marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and meth. Also they are known to be big users of these drugs. They are known to steal Toyota and Nissan model vehicles (mostly the older models) in the up country area. I was told that these cars are stolen, stripped for parts, and the parts are used on cars of their own vehicles. It is unfortunate to say that allot of these Forty Thief punks are locals (Hawaiian). Like my grandfather says, "Dumb locals Making A for all us good local peoples. Not A for ass but A for ashame." "Hawaiians in 2000 made up 46 percent of the population at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. According to the state Department of Public Safety that in 2000, Hawaiians made up 39 percent of Hawaii's adult male inmate population and 44 percent of the adult female inmate population. OHA officials believe the percentages are higher. " (http://starbulletin.com/2002/06/28/news/story4.html)

I notice more Hawaiians enrolling in college since I started my college education. When I started there was about 20 Hawaiian students in the Mu'o A'e Hawaiian cohort program. This semester there was about 50 Hawaiians to join the third cohort. This is a great improvement. I can only hope the Hawaiian youths keep this up and can make the right decisions in life to stay out of trouble and stay out of jail.

References
http://starbulletin.com/2002/06/28/news/story4.html

Maui News paper, 09/21/08

Hawaiinews.com

Interview with a Forty Thief

Interview with victem of Forty Thieves