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Teenage girls arrested for damaging sand sculpture at Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Two teenage girls were arrested on suspicion of criminal property damage and burglary after they were caught on camera vandalizing a sand sculpture at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii.
The incident occurred on June 10, 2023, when the girls were seen running through the hotel’s lobby and jumping on a sand sculpture that had been created by artist Jason B. Hester. The sculpture, which depicted a Hawaiian sea turtle, was valued at $10,000.
Security footage of the incident was released to the media, and the girls were quickly identified. They were arrested on June 12 and booked into the Honolulu Police Department’s juvenile detention facility.
The names of the two teenage girls arrested at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel have not been released because they are minors. They are scheduled to appear in court on June 15.
Hester, the artist who created the sand sculpture, said he was “disappointed” by the girls’ actions. “I put a lot of work into that sculpture, and it’s sad to see it destroyed,” he said.
He said he plans to rebuild the sculpture. “I’m not going to let a few vandals ruin my work,” he said.
Moreso, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel said it is “dismayed” by the incident. “We take great pride in our hotel and the art that is displayed here,” the hotel said in a statement. “We are working with the Honolulu Police Department to investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many people calling for the girls to be punished. Some have also suggested that the hotel should install security cameras in the lobby to deter future vandalism.
Watch the Video here:
Teenage girls arrested for damaging sand sculpture at Royal Hawaiian Hotel pic.twitter.com/dqn24FdZQl
— Crazy Clips (@crazyclipsonly) June 12, 2023