Manhunt underway for man suspected of fatally shooting Big Isle officer

HILO >> The Big Island mourned the loss of Officer Bronson K. Kaliloa Wednesday, only the fifth police officer to be killed in the line of duty on Hawaii island in the last 100 years.

Kaliloa, a 46-year-old husband and father of three small children, was gunned down during a traffic stop in Mountain View Tuesday night.

A manhunt was underway for a 33-year-old suspect identified as Justin Joshua Puamoiwalei Waiki. The FBI offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Waiki has a criminal record of 37 prior arrests and 16 convictions, three of which were felony convictions of promotion of a dangerous drug, forgery and ownership or possession prohibited of a firearm.

“This is probably the worst day in my 36-year career as a police officer,” said Hawaii Police Chief Paul Ferreira at an emotional press conference held at the Hawaii Police Department headquarters in Hilo.

Kaliloa is the first on-duty officer of the Hawaii island police department to be killed by gunshots.

At about 9:47 p.m. Tuesday, Kaliloa and other officers learned that Waiki — who was wanted for failing to meet conditions of his bail — had pulled off on the shoulder of Highway 11.

When officers approached the vehicle, police said Waiki exited the driver’s seat and fired multiple shots with what is believed to be a handgun, striking Kaliloa in the neck and leg.

Two other responding officers immediately returned fire, but Waiki fled on foot into nearby brush. There was no evidence of Waiki being struck by any bullets.

Medics transported Kaliloa to Hilo Medical Center where he underwent surgery. Ferreira choked up at the news conference when he said Kaliloa was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday after lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful.

“I am the chief and I am responsible for this officer’s life and I take it very seriously,” said Ferreira, who donned a black band over his badge. “This was a father, son and a husband.”

“I had to meet with his wife and his father at the hospital and it was very difficult,” Ferreira said. “But we will persevere and we will do what we need to do to make the community safe.”

A 1990 graduate of Waimea High School on Kauai, Kaliloa was 22 when he was hired as a bus operator by Oahu Transit Services and drove for TheBus from 1994 to 2007. Kaliloa joined the Hawaii Police Department on Aug. 1, 2008. He started in the South Kohala district and in 2010 transferred to the Puna district.

Kaliloa is survived by his wife of 23 years, two sons, a daughter and his parents who reside on the Big Island.

His children are ages 3, 4 and 6, said his niece Kawehi Haug of Oahu. Kaliloa and his wife adopted all three through the state foster care system, Haug said.

“Bronson Kaliloa was truly, to his very core, an incredible human,” Haug said in a message to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “He was strong and kind and funny and smart and chivalrous,” treating his wife as an equal and “loved and cared for his three babies the moment he laid eyes on them.”

“One of the great loves of our lives was senselessly murdered last night by a coward with a handgun,” Haug wrote on her Facebook page. “Brokenhearted doesn’t even begin to describe the sorrow and the loss we feel.

“Our Uncle Bronson was the whole world to our Auntie and his three keiki, and now that world has been shattered into a million pieces while we try, and fail, to make sense of this new world without him,” she wrote. “Tears and anger and confusion and grief and shock … everything all at once, and nothing that brings clarity or solace.”

Kaliloa’s wife just lost her father last week, Haug said.

A GoFundMe account was set up by a Puna community member for the officer’s family, and raised over $9,000 in 10 hours. Its goal had been $1,000.

In a written statement, Gov. David Ige extended his condolences to Kaliloa’s family and colleagues. “He was a highly regarded 10-year veteran of the Hawaii Police Department who will be greatly missed. As we mourn this tragic loss, let us honor officer Kaliloa and all men and women in blue for their bravery and commitment to keeping our family and communities safe,” Ige said.

In February 2015, Kaliloa’s peers honored him with the 2014 Puna Patrol Officer of the Year award.

During his career, he was also recognized as “Officer of the Month” twice by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii. In October 2012, the organization honored Kaliloa for his investigative skills where he solved a burglary case.

In April 2014, the Aloha Exchange Club honored him as “Officer of the Month” for the second time for his investigative skills after he helped nab a dangerous convicted felon who was armed with a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun.

Ferreira said the two officers who returned fire at Waiki have been placed on administrative leave with pay, as is standard procedure.

Waiki is described as 5 feet 11 inches and about 145 pounds. Waiki was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored jacket. Though his last known address is Las Vegas, Ferreira said he is a Hawaii island resident and has previously lived in upper Puna, lower Puna, Hamakua and Hilo.

The public is advised not to approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call police at 911, 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.

Individuals may also call Det. William Brown of the Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2384 or e-mail at william.brown@hawaiicounty.gov.