Maui police search for escapee from prison work detail

Maui police are looking for a 26-year-old man who escaped at noon Monday from a Maui Community Correctional Center work detail.

Police said Reid Kauhaahaa escaped from the work detail in the area of Honoapiilani Highway and Waikapu on 30 restaurant.

Police have been canvassing the area and working on leads, a police news release said.

Police notified area schools of the escape.

Two Wailuku schools were placed on lockdown, said Department of Education spokeswoman Dara Young.

Iao Intermediate School was on lockdown from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.  and Wailuku Elementary School was on lockdown from noon to 12:40 p.m.

Puukukui Elementary School was notified, but not locked down since the escapee was not believed to be near that school, Young said.

The lockdown was lifted because the person being pursued by police was headed away from the schools, Young said.

Kauhaahaa was last seen wearing an orange shirt and a pair of jeans.

He is described as 5-feet 6-inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with long brown hair, possibly in a ponytail, and brown eyes. He also has tattoos on both left and right side of his neck.