Thieves were caught in the act but still managed to escape after stealing coconuts from the ancient grove at Hawea heiau complex in Hawaii Kai on Thursday.

“You feel violated,” said Elizabeth Reilly, president of the Livable Hawaii Kai Hui, referring to how she felt Friday.

The hui has been working to restore the 5-acre Hawea heiau and Keawawa wetland for several years and is in the middle of a restoration project underwritten by more than $700,000 from funding sources including city and state conservation programs.

At around 7 p.m. Thursday, two men scaled a chain-link fence to access the grove of 15 or so trees. The trees are allowed to fruit naturally, without trimming, and are laden with coconuts.

The thieves climbed at least two of the trees, cut down the coconuts and were attempting to take them away when a security guard at a neighboring building on Hawaii Kai Drive noticed what was going on and chased them away. A police report was made.

Kaleo Paik, a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, said the brazen theft was an act of disrespect to the Hawaiian culture.

The trees are 50 to 100 years old and sacred, as they are likely descendents of trees planted hundreds of years ago, she said.

The grove is home to the two types of coconut trees common in ancient Hawaii — the niu hewa and niu lelo — which are combined for use in the awa ceremony.

“When these trees are planted together, you know there is something important here,” Paik said.

Paik said the thieves used spiked shoes to climb the trees and might have damaged the trunks, an act that could render them useless for the crafting of traditional drums. Recently an ornate drum was fashioned from a 112-foot tree in the grove that had lost its crown.

Reilly said about 50 coconuts were knocked to the ground and were left where they were as the intruders made their escape.

“My biggest concern is why these people felt entitled. Why did they enter this fenced-off area and help themselves?” she said.

Reilly said the Livable Hawaii Kai Hui board will meet next week. One of the topics of discussion: considering new security measures.