MEDIA RELEASE

Kainoa Bryan

Hawaiʻi County police have arrested and charged a third suspect in connection with a robbery in a parking lot at Aliʻi Sunset Plaza in the early morning of November 26.

At 12:40 p.m. Tuesday (December 11), police arrested 21-year-old Kainoa Bryan of Kealakekua. At 4 p.m. Wednesday (December 12), Bryan was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, fourth-degree theft, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held at the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $80,000 bail pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday (December 13).

A 26-year-old Kealakekua man reported that after he met a local man at bar, the man took him to the northwest corner of the parking lot to meet with five or six males. They punched and kicked the victim and stole his backpack before fleeing on foot.

The victim was treated at Kona Community Hospital for a fractured jaw and minor cuts and scrapes.

Police continue to ask for help from anyone who witnessed the attack or saw the victim talking with a local male in the Coconut Grove area. The victim was wearing shorts and a striped tank top and was carrying a backpack.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, extension 238.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.