A string of vandalism has plagued the newly opened Gen Korean BBQ House in Kahului, prompting the restaurant to offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit. With three such incidents occurring within the month, the establishment's sense of security has been profoundly shaken. "It's disgusting, extremely pilau," GEN Hawai'i District Manager Conan Paik-Rosa told KITV.
Offering more than just a culinary venture, GEN Korean BBQ has become a local employer, staffing over 100 people, and the unwelcome acts against it suggest more than mere coincidence. "Same clothes, same walking style... same posture, so we believe it's the same exact person," Paik-Rosa explained, indicating a targeted aggression toward the establishment that debuted its presence with grandeur and promise. The Maui Police Department, aided by security footage capturing the acts, are on the case, working alongside the affected restaurant, as reported by KITV.
The latest violation, the breaking of more windows, happened early Sunday morning following GEN's grand opening the Saturday prior. The restaurant's Kahului location at 80 Ho’okele Street became the scene of a haunting repeat performance by a figure adorned in a concealing hood and mask. According to Maui News, at approximately 4:46 a.m., the suspect made their move, tapping the window with an object before it surrendered to shattering.
Caught up in a heroic struggle witnessing the menace from its digital watchtower, the surveillance system has been the prime witness to the trio of assaults that began on September 12 and included another round of vandalism on September 23. "We would like to offer an award leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. We do have camera footage but cannot catch a clear shot of their face," Paik-Rosa conveyed hope tinged with frustration in a statement gained from Maui News. The damages are prompting the business to consider expenditure upward of $20,000 on improved security measures, according to KHON2.
The community has been invited to join the search for justice, with contact points open through the GEN Korean BBQ at (808) 429-2806, their official Instagram account, or the Maui Police Department's non-emergency line at (808) 244-6400. Tipsters wishing to preserve their anonymity can reach out to Maui Crime Stoppers at 808-242-6966.
