Hawai’i Police Department
Area I Criminal Investigation Division
Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins
Phone: (808) 961-2251
Report No.: 24-062698
Media Release
The two victims of a downtown Hilo robbery that occurred on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, were employees of a private company contracted by the State of Hawai’i to perform survey work. It was previously reported that their employer was contracted by the County of Hawai’i.
One of the two suspects, 32-year-old Kukaua Keli’iho’oluhi Kaupe Bright, who has no permanent address but is known to frequent the downtown Hilo area, was arrested on Friday, July 12, at 3:15 p.m., in downtown Hilo. Later that evening, he was charged with the following offenses:
- First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle
- Third-degree assault
- Fourth-degree theft
- Unauthorized possession of personal confidential information
Bail was set at $12,100.
The Area I Criminal Investigation Section is continuing this investigation.
Police ask anyone who may have witnesses this incident or who may have information relative to this investigation to call Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378, or via email at jeremy.kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov.
