HONOLULU -- Three Oahu men who tried to take Maui river rocks on the Hawaii Superferry are face fines of $3,000 each and possible criminal charges.

The Kaneohe residents are protesting the action and have hired attorneys to represent them.

It has been 10 months since the state seized three truck beds full of rocks the men claim were being gathered to use for an imu.

Kaneohe residents Charlie Bright, Ralph Chun and Victor Fomoimoana left the land board meeting Friday after they unsuccessfully tried to get the case delayed.

They each face fines of more than $3,000 each. They are accused of taking close to 1,000 rocks from state conservation land without a permit.

The state is not just looking at civil penalties.

"We are still investigating the possibility of criminal penalties," state Land Board Director Laura Thielen said.

State investigators said the men tried to transport the material on the Superferry and have given contradicting statements.

Thielen denied that the state may try and make an example of the theft because it involved the Superferry.

"This is not being brought because of the Superferry. It's being brought because, as any case, where people are taking natural resources off of public lands," Thielen said.

Former Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, who represented two of the three men, refused to comment on the case.

Those close to the investigation said the men claimed some of the rock was taken from private land.

Thielen said the men also admitted to taking rock off state land, too.

State records show that an off-duty enforcement officer actually saw the trio loading up the trucks. The men tried to explain that the rock was to be used for the Mormon Church imu pit, according to documents.

One of the men, Ralph Chun, is a former bishop with the Kahaluu church. Church leader George Kaluhiolkalani said the church has no imu and that no one from the church told the men to take the rock.

Church members said one of the men has an imu at his residence, which is sometimes used for a fundraiser for area Boys Scouts.

The men are contesting the fines and they hope to try work out a settlement with the state, Thielen said.