Burmeister who guarded

family land now traveling

globe

What ever happened to the Burmeister family -- namesakes for the Burmeister Overpass along Likelike Highway?

Answer: The Burmeisters still have their estate deep in Kalihi Valley, accessed only by the Burmeister Overpass.

And much of the immediate family is still in the islands.

But George Burmeister, well known for his run-ins with the law, has steered clear of Hawaii in recent years. Instead, he's traveling the globe.

"He was the one that was very much on the outside of the law," said Burmeister's son, who is also named George. "He had his share of troubles, but it was him always trying to protect the family land."

Burmeister said his father has traveled to places like Africa, New Zealand, Israel and Europe since closing down his Yamaha motorcycle shop a few years ago.

In the 1960s, father Burmeister was convicted of manslaughter after fatally shooting a trespasser on his secluded 16 acres on the Ewa side of the highway. He was sentenced to five years' probation.

Burmeister was also involved in an assault in 1971, of people poaching Christmas trees on his property. Fifteen years later he was charged with shooting out the tires of an employee's car. In 1993 he was charged with assaulting an employee and his girlfriend, smashing their truck windows while they cowered inside.

Burmeister's son owns Cycle Imports in McCully, and his other son is an engineer at the business. Burmeister's daughter lives on the mainland. The siblings' mother lives in the islands but not at the family's estate.

The Burmeister Overpass was built by the state as a compromise, son George Burmeister said, after a portion of the family's land was condemned for construction of Likelike Highway.

He said residents are curious about the overpass, and he gets regular trespassers on his land.

"People go up there all the time," he said with a laugh. "I've caught people making out on the bridge."

This update was written by Star-Bulletin reporter Mary Vorsino.