Barricaded fugitive had 4 guns and ammunition, Maui police say

The 22-year-old Maui man who barricaded himself in a Kahului home for more than 50 hours last week had four guns and ammunition in the house, police said today.

Josiah Okudara entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment this morning in Maui Circuit Court. His trial was set for Oct. 24.

He was arrested at 3 p.m. Friday at 191 Opukea Place. Okudara was wanted on outstanding warrants for two counts of attempted murder and promoting dangerous drugs in the second degree. His bail was set at $550,000.

Maui Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Carson Tani said no new charges as yet have been filed stemming from the stand-off with the police last week.

At about 1 p.m. Wednesday, Okudara resisted being arrested and barricaded himself in the Opukea Place home. Maui police evacuated several nearby homes, and about 25 residents, and began negotiating with the suspect.

Two women, a 22-year-old Kahului resident and 23-year-old Hana resident, who were in the home when Okudara barricaded himself were later arrested for hindering prosecution. The two voluntarily and a young boy left the home on Thursday. They were later released pending investigation.

Also facing charges for hindering prosecution is Erath Kaihewalu, 18, who lives in the Opukea Place home. Kaihewalu was in the home with Okudara for the first day of the standoff and left voluntarily Thursday afternoon, according to police. He was arrested after leaving the house and posted $100,000 bail on Saturday.

Kaihewalu will be tried Sept. 13 in Wailuku Circuit Court.

The standoff ended Friday afternoon when Okudara surrendered peacefully. Police said they recovered three semi-automatic rifles, one revolver and ammunition from the house after the standoff.

During the standoff, gunshots were heard inside the residence on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Police did not return fire, and no injuries were reported. 

Okudara was wanted after being indicted for first-degree attempted murder in the shooting of a 30-year-old man following what witnesses described as a confrontation between several people on Olena Street in Wailuku at about 10:30 p.m. on July 24, 2010. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh.

He was also wanted as a "person of interest" in a car crash that killed 22-year-old Tiare Franco, of Haiku, on May 14.