Five individuals were taken into custody yesterday morning at an old hotel in downtown Hilo, according to a report by the Hawai'i Island police. The arrests came as a result of a coordinated search warrant executed across from Kalākaua Park at a notorious hangout for fugitives.
The multi-agency operation included the Area I Crime Reduction Unit, the Hilo Community Policing Section, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The purpose of the search was to specifically target and to try apprehend individuals known for using the property to dodge law enforcement. The arrested persons faced a variety of charges, ranging from parole violations and criminal contempt to drug promotion and burglary.
Among those arrested were 31-year-old Kapono Ikaika-Cruiz Labrador, who faces a no-bail parole violation and a contempt of court charge with a $150 bail. Stephen K. De La Cruz, 33, has been charged with criminal contempt of court with a bail set at $1,000. John K.K.T. Hauoli, 38, and Stetson Kaholo, 33, both were arrested on no-bail probation orders and additional charges, with bails at $5,000 and $25,000 respectively. Keli‘i Makana Cruz, 37, faces multiple counts, including theft and burglary, with total bail amounting to $13,500, as reported by the Hawai'i Island police.
Hawai‘i Island police are maintaining their stance on ensuring safety and have stated they will continue to aggressively work to prosecute offenders and curb criminal activities that impact the Hilo community. They encourage anyone with information about illegal activities to reach out. They've assured that tips can be given anonymously through Crime Stoppers, a program that ensures confidentiality and may offer a reward for information leading to arrests.
Those who wish to provide information can do so by calling the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or the Hawai‘i Island Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. As always, Crime Stoppers keeps calls anonymous and does not use caller ID, with potential rewards for tips that end up to result in a charge of up to $1,000.
