Hawai‘i Police Department
Acting Lieutenant Derek Morimoto
Criminal Investigation Division – Area 1
Phone: (808) 935-3311
Report No.: 22-051089
Media Release
Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 36-year-old Curtiss Akoni Nihipali, of no permanent address, on an array of offenses, including kidnapping, assault, terroristic threatening, firearms, and drug charges.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Sunday, June 12, 2022, in the area of the Kapoho Kumukahi Lighthouse Road in Pahoa.
Nihipali threatened the 43-year-old male victim while armed with a firearm, and intentionally discharged the firearm near the victim. Nihipali then forced the victim at gunpoint to a remote location near the initial scene, and physically assaulted the victim. The victim was then able to flee the area on foot and contact police.
Searching the area, Puna patrol officers located Nihipali hiding in the vicinity and placed him under arrest. The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment for non-life threatening injuries and later released.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and after conferring with County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, June 13, Nihipali was charged with:
- kidnapping
- two counts of assault in the second degree
- reckless endangering in the first degree
- terroristic threatening in the first degree
- ownership or possession of firearm prohibited
- ownership or possession of ammunition prohibited
- carrying or use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony
- promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree
Nihipali’s bail was set at $191,000 and he had his initial court appearance today, Tuesday, June 14.