Big Island fugitive found in manhunt charged with multiple offenses

UPDATED 11 p.m.

Hawaii island police have charged 44-year-old Ronald Patrick Keahonui Kahihikolo of Ocean View with a slew of offenses, including attempted murder, abuse of a family member, car theft and firearms charges after he was arrested just before 11 a.m. today in the Hamakua District.

A wanted fugitive with numerous outstanding bench warrants, Kahihikolo had been the subject of a five-day manhunt after he allegedly shot a 42-year-old woman in the head with a modified shotgun during a domestic dispute in Ocean View.

Also charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses was Jacqueline Keana‘aina, 26, of Kailua-Kona following an officer-involved shooting Friday in Kona.

In announcing the charges, police also released a more detailed account of the events of the last two days.

On Friday morning, plainclothes Vice detectives received information that Kahihikolo was in the Kona area and in the company of individuals who were in possession of two stolen vehicles, a silver Chevy Malibu and a white Dodge sedan, according to police.

As the detectives began canvassing the area, they spotted the Chevy Malibu containing a male driver, later identified as 32-year-old Kainoa Kahele-Bishop, of Kailua-Kona, and Keana‘aina traveling southbound on Kamakaeha Avenue.

“When detectives attempted to contact the pair as the Malibu came to a stop at the intersection of Kamakaeha Avenue and Palani Road, Kahele-Bishop ignored the officers’ lawful commands to show them his hands and began reaching for an object. Fearing for their safety, two detectives discharged their duty weapons, striking Kahele-Bishop, who unfortunately died at the scene,” said a Hawaii Police Department news release.

After executing a search warrant on the Chevy Malibu, detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section recovered a loaded sawed-off shotgun and an unloaded bolt-action rifle, more than 25 rounds of ammunition, one spent round of ammunition and eight credit cards that did not belong to either of the occupants, the release said.

Kahele-Bishop had an outstanding parole violation with the Hawaii Paroling Authority and was also a person of interest in an attempted burglary Feb. 26 on the 92-8000 block of Tiki Lane in Ocean View, according to police.

Keana‘aina suffered minor injuries in the traffic crash and was treated at the scene by Hawaii Fire Department medics. She was then arrested for an outstanding warrant and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station.

As the shooting incident was occurring, the white Dodge sedan, believed to be driven by Kahihikolo, was spotted traveling northbound toward Waimea. Kahihikolo abandoned the vehicle less than two hours later in the area of Highway 19 near the 40-mile marker in Hamakua district.

Following an extensive multiagency search by land and air that included HPD’s Special Response Team and K9 scent-detection dogs, Hawaii Fire Department helicopters and the FBI, Kahihikolo was arrested just before 11 a.m. today in the vicinity where he abandoned the Dodge sedan.

After conferring with the county Prosecutor’s Office, Kahihikolo was charged with second-degree attempted murder, abuse of a family/household member, ownership/possession of a firearm prohibited, carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree theft, resisting an order to stop, contempt of court, two counts of violations of conditions of release on bail, recognizance, or supervised release and two counts of discharge of sureties.

Kahihikolo’s bail was set at $263,000. He remains in police custody awaiting his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday in Hilo District Court.

Keana‘aina was charged with first-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, two counts of ownership/possession of a firearm prohibited, ownership/possession of ammunition prohibited, place to keep loaded firearms other than pistols and revolvers, place to keep unloaded firearms other than pistols and revolvers, carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway, eight counts of unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, revocation of probation and discharge of sureties.

Keana‘aina was also charged with first-degree attempted burglary stemming from the attempted residential break-in Feb, 26 in Ocean View in which Kahele-Bishop was a person of interest.

Keana‘aina’s bail was set at $323,000. She remains in police custody at the Kealakehe Police Station pending her initial court appearance Monday at Kona District Court.

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Hawaii island police have arrested attempted murder suspect Ronald Patrick Keahonui Kahihikolo in the Hamakua area after searching for him for several days.

The Hawaii Police Department reported arresting Kahihikolo, 44, just before 11 a.m. Saturday near Highway 19 at the 39.5 mile marker. He was wanted for attempted murder and outstanding bench warrants.

Police on Friday chased Kahihikolo and two suspected associates in the Kona area. Police shot and killed a man in his 30s after chasing one of the stolen vehicles believed to be in the possession of Kahihikolo.

HPD officers on Friday also chased after another vehicle, which Kahihikolo was believed to be driving himself. They found the vehicle abandoned in the lower Kalopa area.

Police have been searching for Kahihikolo since Tuesday when he allegedly shot a 42-year-old woman in the head with a modified shotgun during a domestic dispute in Ocean View.