A Shinto shrine in Kalihi is being threatened with legal action for posting a YouTube video of what it calls the brazen theft of $1,000 worth of amulets representing good fortune.
Irene Takizawa, member of the board of directors of the Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu, said a Honolulu attorney representing four Japanese nationals seen in the video sent the shrine a cease-and-desist letterlast week to remove the footage, claiming the Internet post of their images is illegal without their consent.
The video has had almost 3,000 views since it was posted March 7.
At about 12:15 p.m. Feb. 13, three men and a woman were captured by the shrine’s security video cameras taking about 150 amulets, or omamori. Omamori are small, silk-woven amulets that symbolize good fortune and well-being.
The Kalihi shrine’s Hawaii-themed omamori, which include hibiscus and turtle designs, are popular with tourists. For decades the shrine has had an honor system where donations are placed in an envelope.
The shrine requests a $7 minimum donation for an omamori. The four allegedly took advantage of the system and left $6 for 150 amulets.
Shrine leaders have seen the amulets being sold on the Internet for $18 to $25 each.
THE CHANCES that the Japanese nationals will be charged with theft is unlikely because the shrine asks for donations and doesn’t sell the omamori, said Dave Koga, spokesman with the city prosecutor’s office.
"One of the elements of theft is failure to pay a specified price for property or services," he said. "Asking for a donation, even if you suggest an appropriate sum, is asking for a voluntary payment. If it’s a voluntary donation, then it wouldn’t qualify as a theft."
Takizawa’s husband, the Rev. Masa Takizawa, walked past the Japanese nationals before they started to stuff their bags with the amulets. He later discovered that the omamori were gone.
The shrine installed video surveillance cameras in late January or early February due to theft attempts involving their offering box. Signs are posted in the area notifying visitors that the area is monitored.
The footage shows the four people stuffing the amulets in their bags. They left after about five minutes in a rental car parked in the center of the driveway.
"It’s inconceivable that they would do something like this on sacred ground," said Takizawa.
The shrine made a theft report and turned over the video to the Police Department, which has opened an investigation. But the shrine also posted the footage on YouTube in an attempt to seek the public’s help in identifying the four people.
Takizawa said she believes an apology is in order for what she considers wrongdoing, but instead the "thieves" are threatening to sue the shrine.
"We’re the victims here," she said.
The shrine didn’t disclose the name of the attorney representing the four Japanese nationals.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
