Police looking for drivers in Kalaheo hit-and-run

Kauai police are asking for the public’s help in finding the hit-and-run driver or drivers who killed a 24-year-old Eleele man who was walking on Halewili Road in Kalaheo the night of Sept. 30.

Police had already arrested a Kalaheo man they suspected of hitting the victim and leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death, but released him pending further investigation.

Florentino Maipi was walking eastbound when he was struck by a vehicle or vehicles driving eastbound in the area of the concrete Wahiawa Bridge, between the west junction of Halewili Road, Kaumualii Highway and Kauai Coffee Co.

“Although the driver of the vehicle that first struck Maipi has been tentatively identified, we believe there could be at least two other vehicles that may have inadvertently struck the decedent after the initial impact,” said acting Assistant Chief Paul Applegate of the Kauai Police Department.

Police are asking anyone traveling on Halewili Road between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sept. 30 who may have seen or heard anything, no matter how insignificant, to report it to call the Kauai Police Department at 241-1617 or CrimeStoppers at 246-8300.