The Maui News

More than a dozen members with Love Has Won, a group recognized by some officials as a religious cult, left Hawaii on Sunday en route for the Mainland, according to Maui officials.

Maui police were notified at about 3:20 p.m. Sunday that three members of the group were on their way from Kauai to Maui. Group leader Amy Carlson, 44, along with Jason Castillo, 45, and Miguel Lamboy, 42, were filling out travel forms when Kahului Airport screeners found that they had reservations at a “nonapproved location,” according to a Maui Police Department news release. Officers intercepted the three at the airport at about 4:50 p.m.

Pointing to a “big misunderstanding,” Castillo said it was in the group’s best interest to return to the Mainland. All three were from Colorado.

Hours later, they took a flight to San Francisco and then on to Colorado, Mayor Michael Victorino said in a news release Monday. He added that the group did not leave the Kahului Airport grounds between their arrival from Kauai and their Mainland departure.

Another 11 members were traveling from Kauai to Maui on Sunday but were stopped on Oahu and diverted to Colorado. All returned to Colorado voluntarily, Maui police said.

Carlson, Castillo and Lamboy arrived on Kauai about a month ago and rented a house, Maui police said. During their stay, protests, vandalism and small fires had been reported, prompting law enforcement to intervene. 

The protests escalated Friday and the group “ultimately decided to leave Kauai for their safety.”

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