Large snake surprises homeowner in Nuuanu

Police captured a large snake in Nuuanu on Thursday after a man opened his front door to see the reptile stretched out on his driveway and peering back at him.

People at the scene said the snake appeared to be a boa constrictor and estimated it to be 6 to 8 feet long and at least 20 pounds.

“I thought it was trying to get out of the rain,” said Brian Sakamaki, who found the snake under his driveway canopy near the end of Old Pali Drive at about 7 p.m.

Sakamaki said the snake was fully extended, facing his front door, and about 5 feet away.

Sakamaki, who had never seen a live snake, thought the animal might be a piece of trash someone had left on the driveway.

With a closer look, he recognized the snake’s head.

“Then I backed up thinking it might spit at me,” he said. He stamped his foot and yelled at the animal, which slithered to the left, then moved in a wide U-shape, traveling more than 20 feet in the driveway. Sakamaki noted the peculiar way the snake moved, traveling forward without slithering side to side.

He said it was quick, and realized that it may have been someone’s pet and was waiting to be fed.

Sakamaki, who was heading out to Costco when he stumbled upon the snake, said he first called his wife, concerned that it might try to attack her when she returned. She called police, and Sakamaki decided to watch the animal until police arrived.

An arriving officer goaded the snake into a trash can.

Police tied the lid on with yellow police tape and placed the can in a cruiser until a state official could retrieve the reptile.

Sakamaki never made it to Costco, but said he was relieved that officers were able to catch the snake.