HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA PATROL DIVISION
LIEUTENANT BRAD H. BALLESTEROS
PHONE: 326-4646
JULY 13, 2004
H-97368
MEDIA RELEASE
Police arrested and charged 11 persons early Saturday (July 10, 2004) after breaking up a large affray involving 40 to 50 people at Makalawena Beach in North Kona.
Witnesses called police and reported that suspects were recklessly driving their vehicles through campsites, damaging vehicles in the area, assaulting campers and preventing people from leaving the area by blocking escape routes with their vehicles. There were also reports of people being injured, and fire rescue was summoned.
Upon arrival, police stopped suspects trying to leave the area in two vehicles. The suspects, described to police by victims via cellphones and later positively identified by victims, were hostile and confrontational to police.
They were initially arrested for multiple offenses, including curfew violation, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, assault, disorderly conduct, criminal property damage, obstruction of government operations and resisting arrest.
Officers arrested one juvenile female, three juvenile males, one adult female and six adult males.
Three male assault victims were identified. A vehicle was thrashed and items were stolen from it.
Over the weekend, officers from Kona Patrol interviewed victims, witnesses and suspects.
Working with a deputy prosecutor, they recovered some stolen property and subsequently, arrested and charged the following individuals:
- Henry P. Bell, 22, of Kailua-Kona, with three counts of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal property damage, resisting arrest, second-degree theft and two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening. He is being held at the Kealakehe Police Station in lieu of $18,000 bail.
- Jonathan Taetuna, 18, of Honaunau, with two counts of second degree-assault, two counts of third-degree assault, second-degree criminal property damage and first-degree terroristic threatening. He is being held at the Kealakehe Police Station in lieu of $9,000 bail.
- Rafael K. Rodrigues, 18, of Honaunau, with two counts of third-degree assault and second-degree criminal property damage. He is being held at the Kealakehe Police Station in lieu of $4,000 bail.
- Shiloh K. Chenoweth, 20, of Hilo, with two counts of third-degree assault and second-degree property damage. He is being held at the Kealakehe Police Station in lieu of $4,000 bail.
- James K. Hezekia, 18, of Holualoa, with second-degree theft. He is being held at the Kealakehe Police Station in lieu of $2,000.00 bail.
- Napualani S. Kamoku, 22, of Kailua-Kona, with first-degree hindering prosecution, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. She is being held at the Kealakehe Police Station in lieu of $3,000 bail.
In addition, Charles M. Kaupiko, 20, of Honaunau, was arrested and charged on an outstanding bench warrant and is being held on $300 bail.
A 15-year-old male and two 17-year-old males were arrested and charged with violation of curfew, and a 16-year-old female was arrested and charged with obstruction of government operations, disorderly conduct and curfew violation. They were all released to the custody of their parents or guardians.
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