Man says he was robbed at gunpoint on Maui beach

WAILUKU >> A Maui man says he was enjoying an afternoon at the beach at Mai-poina-oe-iau Park on Friday when he was robbed at gunpoint.

Bill Mead, 52, who has worked on Maui for eight months, told the Maui News that two men came around a sand dune while he was sitting alone on the beach.

“They came running right up on me real quick and stuck a gun in my face,” said Mead. He said one man pointed a shotgun at him and cycled the pump action while the other demanded his car keys.

Mead said he didn’t have a car but the robbers indicated one parked behind him.

When he said that wasn’t his car, the robbers grabbed his work cellphone and watch before running off, said Mead. He estimates that the iPhone and watch are worth about $700.

There were multiple police cars at the scene but police did not respond to The Maui News’ request for information on Friday afternoon.

“Honestly, why would you shoot somebody on the beach for very little?” said Mead. “But do you really want to take that chance with somebody shoving a gun in your face?”

He said both robbers appeared to be in their late teens.

Mead said there were other people at the beach but no one was very close to him. He said he tried to call the work phone but the calls went straight to voicemail.

Kihei Community Association president Mike Moran said he was surprised to hear about the robbery and does not know about any similar robberies in the region.

“I’m floored to hear that happened, in the daytime especially,” Moran said. “This seems very, very extreme.”