HONOLULU — On Tuesday, an Oahu Circuit Court Judge sentenced Glenn Helton, 48, to 10 years in prison for starting a fire in Waikiki that destroyed more than 500 surfboards, according to a release.

What You Need To Know

  • Glenn Helton was sentenced to 10 years in prison for starting a fire in Waikiki that destroyed a surfboard locker and more than 500 surfboards in October 2021

  • He was also ordered to pay $414,000 in restitution

  • Two other Waikiki surf rack fires remain unsolved

  • The Kuhio Beach Surfboard Lockers were permanently closed after the October 2021 fire

Helton was charged with starting a fire that destroyed the Kuhio Beach Surfboard Lockers next to the Moana Surfrider Hotel and the surfboards in them in a fire in October 2021. 

As part of his sentence, Helton was ordered to pay the City and County of Honolulu, which owned the surf racks, a total of $414,000 in restitution. 

Helton was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for an unrelated second-degree robbery charge and five years in prison for an unrelated third-degree arson charge. According to a plea agreement, Helton will serve the sentences concurrently. He pled guilty in October 2022. 

“Waikiki will be a safer place with Mr. Helton off the streets,” said Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm in the release. “The outcome of this case won’t restore the surfboard racks, but it does highlight the ongoing effort by Honolulu police and prosecutors to hold those who commit crimes in Waikiki and elsewhere accountable.”

Other fires destroyed 525 surfboards in February 2020 also at the Kuhio Beach Surfboard Lockers and a few dozen surfboards in November 2021 at Nalu’s Storage next to the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, according to our news partners Honolulu Star-Advertiser. No one has been charged for these incidents. 

The Kuhio Beach Surfboard Lockers were permanently removed after the fire destroyed them.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.