A trespasser killed and partially butchered one of the most valuable animals at an upcountry Maui ranch over the weekend, leaving the owner shaken and police publicly asking for help. The 4-year-old cow, a three-quarters Wagyu that had recently given birth, was found dead in a Haiku pasture with an arrow nearby and much of its meat removed. The rancher estimates the breeding animal was worth about $50,000, turning the loss into both a gut punch and a long-term economic setback.
According to Hawaii News Now, Naalae Beef Company owner William Jacintho discovered the carcass on Saturday and recovered an arrow at the scene. He described the cow as “real mellow,” the kind of animal that would walk up to people and eat from their hand, and said the trespasser harvested a large share of the meat before leaving. Losing a breeding cow with that pedigree - and the future calves she was expected to produce - is a major blow to his small operation.
Owner, Customers Say Loss Is Heartbreaking
KHNL/Gray coverage republished by KSNB quoted longtime customer Megan Nakashima of Pukalani Superette, who called the loss “really heartbreaking” and noted that Jacintho has supplied the community for years. That report adds that this was not the first violent incident on the property. Jacintho told reporters that roughly a year earlier, three cows were found shot on the ranch, a pattern he said has left him “numb to this stuff.” Maui police have not announced any arrests in the current case.
Photos Circulate Online
Photos circulating on social media show carcass parts scattered across the Haiku property, and they have stoked anger and disbelief among locals. Neighbors and customers described seeing the images on community message boards and said the killing felt brazen and deeply disrespectful. Jacintho said the emotional toll is heavy because the cow was a familiar, gentle presence on the ranch, not just a line on a balance sheet.
Calls For A Dedicated Ag-Crime Unit
Jacintho told reporters he hopes Hawaii’s recent focus on rural crime will reach Maui, with more protection for ranchers and investigators dedicated to agricultural theft and poaching. Earlier in 2025, the state Department of Law Enforcement launched a pilot unit to target agricultural crimes on Oahu and Hawaii Island. Supporters say the program is meant to cut losses for farmers and ranchers and give rural producers a specialized channel for reporting theft. Details of that effort are outlined by Hawaii News Now.
How To Help
Maui police are asking anyone with information about the killing to contact the department, KSNB reports. Investigators have not released any suspect description or a detailed timeline beyond confirming that the carcass was discovered over the weekend. Anyone with tips is urged to reach out to Maui police so detectives can follow up.
Legal Note
No charges have been publicly filed, and the investigation remains active. The killing has sharpened long-standing frustrations among island ranchers about trespass and theft on large rural parcels, and supporters of the pilot ag-crime unit have continued to push for tougher penalties and more enforcement resources. For now, the loss sits as a raw wound for a small ranch that counts its animals and its community relationships as central to its livelihood.
