Suspect arrested in connection with robbery of tourists

Big Island police arrested a Honaunau teenager connection with the knife-point robbery of two tourists at a coffee processing company in Kealakekua on June 11.

The 17-year-old boy was arrested in Honokaa this morning on suspicion of first-degree robbery and second-degree attempted robbery for allegedly robbing a 63-year-old Tennessee man and his 58-year-old wife, police said. He was also arrested for allegedly stealing a red Honda Civic used to flee the scene of the robbery.

Detectives are still looking for a second suspect in the crime.

Police said the victims, were walking on a tour path at the coffee company on Napoopoo Road when two suspects confronted them, grabbed the woman from behind, threatened her with a knife and demanded money. One suspect hit the 63-year-old man in the face when he told them that he didn’t have any money, police said. The suspects fled with the woman’s purse.

The boy is being held at the Kona police station pending his transfer to the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility on Oahu for failing to comply with terms of Drug Court.