A former University of Hawaii men’s volleyball player turned youth coach from Waimanalo is at the center of a disturbing federal case, accused of exploiting a teenage girl he once coached and recording it on video.
Federal prosecutors say Elias David was arrested this week on charges that he produced sexually explicit videos of a minor athlete under his supervision. Court filings allege the relationship started in 2023, when the girl was 16, and that investigators later pulled dozens of explicit files from her phone.
Charges and investigation
David, 37, was formally charged by criminal complaint on December 3 with production of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii. The office says the charge carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a statutory maximum of 30 years if he is convicted.
Federal authorities say the case is being investigated by the FBI with help from the Honolulu Police Department, signaling that this is being treated as a serious, long-haul federal prosecution rather than a quick local arrest.
Allegations and evidence
According to Hawaii News Now, FBI court documents allege the sexual relationship began after a 2023 volleyball trip to Las Vegas, when the alleged victim was 16 years old. The filings say sexual activity later took place at the federal fire station where David worked, a nearby warehouse, his home and inside his vehicle.
Investigators reportedly found 97 graphic videos on the teen’s phone, along with 78 emails tied to rideshare trips and GPS location data. The complaint states that David admitted arranging rideshares so she could meet him. Hawaii News Now also reports that David previously played for the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team in 2009 and worked as a Department of Defense firefighter at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam’s Federal Fire Station 9.
Legal implications
The criminal complaint is an allegation, not a conviction, and David is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii noted.
If a federal jury finds him guilty of producing child pornography, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office will handle the case in federal court.
Context in Hawaii
This is not the first time in recent years that a youth coach in Hawaii has faced federal scrutiny over alleged exploitation of players. Last August, a former girls basketball coach was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to child exploitation and harassment charges involving players, according to Hawaii News Now.
How to report tips or get help
Anyone with information about this case or other suspected child exploitation is urged to contact local law enforcement, call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or file a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at NCMEC.
NCMEC operates a 24/7 online reporting portal and a hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST, which can route tips to law enforcement and connect families and victims with resources. For additional safety guidance, parents and caregivers can also review online protection advice from the FBI.
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