Judge increases Kaua’s bail to $5M

A state judge increased bail Wednesday to $5 million for a man who was involved in a 15-hour armed standoff with Honolulu police last week at a home in Pearl City.

Wayman Kaua’s bail was $1 million when he was charged Sunday with attempting to kill three Honolulu police officers, as well as threatening them and a fourth officer. He also was charged with various firearm offenses, including possessing and using a sawed-off shotgun during the standoff.

After an Oahu grand jury indicted Kaua on the same charges Wednesday, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell asked Circuit Judge Shirley Kawamura to increase Kaua’s bail to $5 million because of the seriousness of the charges and “Kaua’s dangerous and extensive criminal record. He qualifies as a career criminal and poses a danger to the community.”

Kawamura agreed.

Kaua was involved in a similar armed standoff with police at another Pearl City home on Waimano Home Road in 1998 that kept neighbors locked in their homes during the 22-hour ordeal. It ended when a police sharpshooter shot Kaua in the chest as he was holding his wife hostage at gunpoint.

He was involved in a three-hour standoff with

police in 1990 after he barricaded himself in an Ewa Beach home with his then-girlfriend, who was pregnant, and her infant son.

Last week’s standoff was at his ex-girlfriend Pacific Palisades home. Bell said Kaua told police he lived at the home. The standoff started with the ex-girlfriend and family members in the two-story home. They were able to get out before police forced Kaua out with tear gas.

Kaua pleaded guilty to reckless endangering and to possessing a firearm and ammunition for the 1990 standoff and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released on parole in 1997.

A jury found Kaua guilty of attempted manslaughter, attempted assault, terrorist threatening and firearm offenses for the 1998 standoff and a state judge sentenced him to life in prison with the opportunity for release on parole. A federal court judge overturned Kaua’s life prison term and he was re-sentenced to 20 years in prison. Kaua completed his sentence and was released earlier this year.

Kaua also has a 1988 robbery conviction.