A former Hilo man faces severe legal consequences following his arrest and subsequent charge in relation to two separate criminal incidents, one occurring in January this year and another dating back to August 2022. Hiram Dale Kelii Kuilauwoho Kawelu, now 37, was apprehended at Kona International Airport and currently awaits trial on multiple counts, including robbery and manslaughter.
Upon his arrest last Thursday, Kawelu found himself entrenched in the legal system's gears, facing serious allegations, as reported by the Hawai’i Police Department. These charges include first-degree robbery, burglary, terroristic threatening, and firearms offenses, stemming from a home invasion earlier in the year where an elder couple was terrorized and their caretaker assaulted.
The incident in question took place shortly after midnight on January 29, where two masked men, one reportedly carrying a firearm while the other wielded a ratchet breaker bar, invaded an elderly couple’s home in Keaukaha. The 37-year-old caretaker attempted to intervene, only to be struck multiple times by the suspects who then fled the scene. The caretaker was treated for non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the altercation, while the senior residents remained unharmed.
Further complicating Kawelu's legal troubles is his connection to a grievous incident from 2022. While held without bail, he faces manslaughter among other charges; these relate to an event where Allen Yune Lyau Kealoha, a 62-year-old Pahoa man, was tragically killed when being struck by his own vehicle during a theft. Though having his initial court appearance scheduled for September 2, the wheels of justice began turning when DNA evidence linked him to that fatal scene, as mentioned in the police report.
As the Area I Criminal Investigation Division pursued these cases, they conducted comprehensive follow-ups and forensic analysis, culminating in the DNA results implicating Kawelu. Law enforcement officials, urging anyone with information to step forward, have highlighted that tipsters may remain anonymous and still be eligible for a reward if their information assists the investigations. Detective David Poohina can be contacted directly with potential leads that might shine further light on these harrowing crimes.
