Authorities arrested 38-year-old Sam Pilikia Tuesday for allegedly attempting to steal building supplies and fleeing from officers. While a simple theft may not be especially newsworthy, Sam’s story has garnered a lot of attention. Pilikia is one of dozens living in the drainage system underneath Lahaina and claims he and his “neighbors” needed the construction materials to prepare for an upcoming apocalypse. Many are now calling for officials to take action and help provide permanent housing and medical services for those living in the tunnels.
Squatter settlements seem to be inevitable in many large cities, and despite the beautiful scenery, Lahaina is no exception. Thousands of residents found themselves displaced after the devastation of hurricane Neki last year and many who lost everything like Pilikia have not recovered. Friends say that Sam’s life began to spiral out of control after a work accident in 2043 where he was exposed to large amounts of 127, the element used in veil travel. He made an amazing recovery but had trouble finding a job due to the lingering effects of his injuries. Family members say he began to talk about a coming catastrophe that would wipe out civilization and became obsessed with doomsday scenarios. Despite their best efforts to get him help Sam disappeared. They had no idea where he had gone until his arrest at the Kalipalani Construction lot.
“I noticed a new guy was in the yard loading up a pallet with paver stones when I got in,” says Ronnie Kalipalani. Although he didn’t recognize Mr. Pilikia the owner of Kalipalani Construction says he just thought Sam was a new hire trying to make a good impression on his first day.
“I couldn’t believe that someone actually showed up before 8 am. I mean I was just in on time because the AC went out at home and I couldn’t sleep. I figured he must be one of Mark’s friends who needed some work. I watched him load stuff up and organize stone for almost an hour while the rest of my crew rolled in. We were all just sitting there trying to work up the energy to head out to our first job for the day when I thought I’d go out and say Aloha. I asked his name but he ignored me. I asked again a little louder and he stopped what he was doing and asked me if I know how to make a speargun out of a ukulele. Before I could answer he starts going on about how we didn’t have much time and needed to build a secure base. He was talking about the world ending, monsters in the jungle, and how important it was to burn up bodies before they attracted predators.
He rambled on like that for a few minutes and I could tell he was getting really worked up about it. After listening for a while I was positive he was one of Mark’s buddies. I’ve heard some crazy things at Mark’s house, I mean the kind of things that most people just keep to themselves. I went back inside the office and told everyone some of what he said. We were all having a good laugh until Mark showed up and asked who the new guy was. I don’t know much more about him other than he ran really fast when the cops came and that I’d love to offer him a job once he works out his personal and legal issues. He was a heck of a worker.”
Officials have charged Pilikia with trespassing and evading arrest, but advocates say Sam and many like him need housing and/or medical treatment, not incarceration. Ironically, one of the biggest rebuilding initiatives in Lahaina has fueled the homeless problem as dozens of the displaced have moved into the newly constructed Manimal drainage system.
“It’s a super sad situation,” says Manimal CEO Spencer Kane. “I guess we made the sewers and storm drains a little too nice.”
“For sure there are plenty of attractions down there. Part of our design goals was to give utility workers spots to unwind during their day. There are storage rooms with quarter pipes so workers can practice tricks, lots of stair rails to grind, and plenty of structures to practice parkour, but it’s not supposed to be a home. As amazing as it is you can’t live an amazing life down there even if you just stick to the greywater areas.
Our intentions were to provide Lahaina with the most radical drainage system in all of Hawaii. I promise that we hadn’t even thought that we might be making a base for a doomsday cult or anything like that. Manimal is an extreme drink but we’ve never been about extreme thinking. I hope we can figure out a solution for Sam and everyone else waiting for the world to end while camping out in the tunnels.”
