Hawaiʻi Island police have made significant headway into local drug trafficking with the arrest and subsequent charging of a 54-year-old Kailua-Kona man, identified as William Kaohu. The arrest, which took place early on a Thursday morning, followed the execution of a narcotics search warrant at Kaohu's residence.
Officers from the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Vice West Section discovered a substantial amount of illegal substances during the search, including 12.2 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly 2 pounds of marijuana, as well as ounces of cocaine, various prescription pills, and marijuana extract. The stockpile didn't end at drugs. A .22 caliber Marlin Glenfield Model 60 rifle, and a variety of ammunition were also found amongst the illegal haul, along with more than $21,300 in cash. Details from the search and arrest were released in a statement by the Hawaiʻi Police Department.
In coordination with the Hawai‘i County Prosecutor’s Office, Kaohu now faces a litany of charges. These include five counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two ownership prohibited counts pertaining to the found rifle and ammunition, two counts of cruelty to animals, first-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, charges for the promotion of both a dangerous and harmful drug, and tampering with evidence.
Kaohu's bail was set at a steep $669,000, reflecting the severity of the offenses. He remains in custody, awaiting his initial court appearance to respond to these allegations. In an effort to gather more information on this case or related incidents, police are urging anyone with insights to reach out to Vice Detective Chandler Nacino. They have provided contact details for Nacino in hopes that community members will aid in the ongoing investigation.
