The Honolulu Advertiser - Three Kane‘ohe men accused of illegally taking rocks from a Maui conservation district last year will each be fined $3,050, according to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Land board members, however, set in motion the possibility of a later presentation of the case before a hearings officer, which could reduce or increase the amount of fines. On Aug. 28, 2007, Charlie K. Bright, Ralph Chun and Victor Fonoimoana allegedly took 934 river rocks from the Paukukalo Shoreline in Waiehu, placed them in three pick-up trucks, covered them with tarps and then drove to the Hawai‘i Superferry’s Kahului Terminal for a return trip to O‘ahu.

Bright told the branch chief of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement that they needed to replenish rocks for a church imu. “Our bishop told us to come to Maui to get imu rocks because ours is old already, about 10 to 12 years old,” Bright was quoted as saying in a report to the land board. “We had good intentions. It was for a good cause. We didn’t know it was illegal or that we needed a permit.” The trucks remain in state custody until the fines are paid. The rocks are still stored on Maui.