Hawai’i Police Department
Office of the Police Chief
Police Chief Benjamin T. Moszkowicz
Phone: (808) 961-2244
Report No.: 23-078210
Media Release
Hawai’i Island police detectives have charged Hawai’i Police Department Officer Mark Kealoha Kaili Jr., of Keaau.
On Saturday afternoon, August 19, 2023, after conferral with the Hawai’i County Prosecutors Office, the 31-year-old Puna Patrol officer was charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree assault stemming from an incident reported Tuesday morning, August 15, 2023, in Ka’u.
Kaili’s bail has been set at $6,000. If he does not post bail, he will appear in Hilo District Court on Monday afternoon, August 21, 2023.
On Friday morning, August 18, 2023, at 10:25 a.m., detectives arrested Kaili at his residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
The charges against Kaili stem from an incident reported early Tuesday morning at a residence in Naalehu, where two masked men reportedly entered the 20-year-old victim’s residence and assaulted him. During the altercation, the victim’s grandfather intervened, and in the process unmasked one of the suspects, later identified as Kaili, who was off-duty during the alleged incident, as well as at the time of his arrest.
The other suspect was immediately identified as 27-year-old Cody Kuaili’aimoku Kanahele, who is the cousin of the victim. Kanahele was arrested a short time after this incident was reported, and later that same day he was charged with first-degree burglary, and third-degree assault. He was later released from police custody after posting bail, and was given a future court date.
The Area I Criminal Investigation Division and the Office of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs) are continuing this investigation.
The Office of Professional Standards has also initiated a standard internal administrative investigation. Officer Kaili has been placed on leave without pay pending the outcome of the separate criminal and internal investigations.
I am grateful to the investigators for their hard work in solving and charging this case” said Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz. “It is important to remember that while the allegations against Officer Kaili are serious, they do not represent the hard work and dedication of the Hawai’i Police Department.”
