Escalating attacks on environmental activist Carroll Cox should be an affront to anyone who cares about rooting out abuse and corruption in Hawaii. Law-enforcement agencies must make solving two recent crimes a high priority, lest the perpetrators succeed in silencing a dedicated community watchdog — and send a chilling message to others who otherwise may be inclined toward activism.

For his part, Cox vows to continue his work undeterred, committed to shining a spotlight on illegal dumping on Oahu and misuse of government land and other resources. The Mililani man should not have to go it alone — anyone who can help police solve these crimes should call the Honolulu Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 768-3609.

On May 6, Cox was beaten as he sat in his car near Boxer Road in Kalaeloa, taking pictures during the day of an unpermitted modular home on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property. Two masked men reportedly approached his car, stole his car keys and struck him on the head with what appeared to be a pipe; it took nine staples to repair Cox’s head wound. Police opened investigations into assault, criminal property damage and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, but have made no arrests.

Then, on July 2, late at night, violence was brought to his Mililani home. Two of his vehicles were set ablaze in his driveway. A loud boom and the sound of squealing tires brought Cox out of the house in time to extinguish the fire before it spread to his home or to neighboring properties. Security cameras captured elements of the arson; police have opened an arson investigation and are looking for two male suspects.

Cox suspects the same people are involved in both attacks, and that they are angry with him because violations he has exposed may cost them a substantial amount of money to correct. If Cox is on the mark, these are not simple assault or arson cases, but violent efforts to shut him up — a fundamental violation of his free-speech rights and a lethal warning that serves to keep other people from speaking up, too.

However, witnesses, if there are any, have a civic and moral duty to come forward. And if Honolulu police are unable to make headway in solving these cases, they should seek assistance from federal law-enforcement agencies who may have more severe penalties to unleash. It’s important to act before Cox is victimized again.

Aloha aina is a well-used phrase. A lot of people talk about protecting Hawaii’s environment, but far fewer devote their lives to the cause as Cox has. We all benefit from the dedication and tenacity of activists like him, who are willing to walk the talk, working every day to prevent and expose illegal dumping and other abuse of Hawaii’s fragile natural environment.

All of Oahu should be alarmed by any effort to injure and intimidate this watchdog. These attacks must stop now — and they must not go unpunished.