Hawai‘i Police Department
Criminal Investigation Section – Area I
Lieutenant Zachary Fernando
Phone: (808) 961-2252
Report Nos: 23-059608 and 23-059241
Media Release (Update #2)
Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged two men in connection to the recent Merrie Monarch Festival office burglary case that occurred between Sunday morning, June 18, and Monday morning, June 19, 2023, in which unknown suspect(s) entered the establishment and removed numerous items valued at more than $2,700, including eight Merrie Monarch Festival medals.
On Tuesday morning, June 20, as police were investigating the Merrie Monarch burglary, Hilo patrol officers responded to a trespassing call in the 390 block of Hualani Street in Hilo in which it was reported that an unknown number of suspects entered a closed business establishment. Officers subsequently arrested 36-year-old Dayson Eblacas of Ewa Beach, Oahu, and 30-year-old Makua Amituanai of Pāhoa for first-degree criminal trespass after finding them inside the closed business (Report #23-059608). Both men were suspected of illegally squatting at the property.
During the course of investigating the criminal trespass case, police recovered property stolen from the Merrie Monarch Festival office, including eight Merrie Monarch medals, numerous electronic devices, and clothing items.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday June 21, officers with HPD’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section Crime Reduction Unit charged both men with an array of offenses for both the closed business and Merrie Monarch burglary investigations.
Eblacas was charged with the following relative to entering the closed business:
- First-degree criminal trespass
- Ownership or possession prohibited
- Third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug: possession of marijuana
- Third-degree promotion of a harmful drug: possession of marijuana concentrates
- Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug: possession of dangerous narcotic (methamphetamine)
- Habitual property crime
In addition, police arrested and charged Eblacas with second-degree theft relative to the Merrie Monarch burglary, including theft of the Merrie Monarch medals and other items.
His total bail for both incidents was set at $67,000.
Amituanai was charged with the following offenses relative to entering the closed business:
- First-degree criminal trespass
- Habitual property crime
In addition, police arrested and charged Amituanai with fourth-degree theft relative to the Merrie Monarch burglary. Total bail for Amituanai was set $12,000.
Both men remain in custody at HPD’s East Hawai’i Detention Center pending their initial court appearance scheduled for June 22, 2023.
Pictured is Makua Amituana. A photo of Dayson Eblacas is not available at this time.
