In an unfolding story from Hawai‘i Island, Puna resident Isaac Kamali‘i, 39, faces several criminal charges arising from a stolen vehicle investigation and subsequent search of a Pāhoa home. The Hawai‘i Police Department, after consultation with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, levied charges against Kamali‘i including first-degree theft, first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree terroristic threatening, and two counts of driving without a valid driver’s license, as mentioned in an official police statement.
Authorities set Kamali‘i's bail at $92,000. He made his initial court appearance yesterday. This case emanated from an October 16 incident where a Puna Patrol officer, seeking a stolen vehicle, spotted a match in the driveway of a residence in the Ainaloa subdivision. Kamali‘i, already on the police's radar and considered dangerous, was near the vehicle but retreated from view, leading to heightened caution by the responding officer.
The situation escalated when backup arrived, and curtains at the home were drawn shut. Calling in the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team, law enforcement officials established a perimeter and used loudspeaker announcements to command those inside to exit. According to the police report, after several hours, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Kamali‘i exited and was apprehended without further incident.
No other individuals were found in the home, and the police verified the vehicle had been taken from a location on Gardenia Avenue in Ainaloa earlier in the month. The recovery of the stolen vehicle is pending the completion of a search warrant. To ensure public and officer safety during the operation, a section of Aloha Drive was temporarily closed, with police expressing gratitude for community cooperation in the disruption.
The Area I Crime Reduction Unit keeps the investigation of these events active, inviting anyone with pertinent information to reach out. Officer Jayce Carvalho can be contacted at (808) 961-2272 or through email at [email protected].
