Thieves target North Sound Hawaiian heritage nonprofit

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. — Up until last Thursday, there was a trailer parked outside the Colors of Hawaii store in Lake Stevens.

When thieves towed it away, they probably had no idea what was inside, but it turns out what they stole represents cultural history.

Inside the Colors of Hawaii, you’ll truly find all the colors of Hawaii, from artwork to leys and ukuleles.

You’ll also find an even more colorful owner.

“You'll get ‘aloha’ when you come in here -- the hugs and kisses!” Cyndi Pa explained.

But things have been looking pretty gray lately. Thieves took Pa's Pa-u riders’ trailer that holds all their banners, horse blankets, a $10,000 roadster bought in California and the canoe it pulls behind it: a cleverly disguised pooper scooper.

"We have to have pooper scoopers. The parades, that's one of the rules, you have to have a pooper scooper,” Pa told us.

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Pa'u riders are part of a volunteer group that preserves Hawaii's unique heritage.

They rent the horses and spend thousands of their own dollars to dress in elaborate silks, then march in parades across the country, including Seafair's Torchlight Parade and the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

Police found the damaged trailer in Stanwood missing cables, locks, tires and everything inside.

"We even had an espresso machine in here that we were going to give to someone. They took that,” Pa said.

Some of the stuff, like the roadster, is expensive, but most of it is priceless to Pa and her group, who bring a little color to this world simply because they can.

"God, I was just so heartbroken. It's devastating. How can people do something like this?" Pa wondered aloud.

She’s offering a $1,000 reward for the return of the items, primarily the car.  If you have any information about the crime call, Lake Stevens police.

Cox Media Group