A quiet overnight shift at a Kalihi convenience store turned tense early Monday when a gunman allegedly held a clerk at gunpoint, grabbed property and sped off on a moped, according to Honolulu police. The robbery was reported at about 1:24 a.m., and officers say no one was physically hurt. Detectives are now combing the area and urging witnesses and nearby businesses to pull surveillance footage that might help pin down the suspect.
HPD is investigating a Robbery in the First Degree that occurred at a convenience store in the Kalihi area. The suspect brandished a handgun demanded property and fled the scene on a black moped. Witnesses described the suspect as a black male in his 30s approximately 5'6" to 5'8" tall with a slim build wearing a black long-sleeve sweater with a purple 34 on the back, gray pants, white shoes, white headphones, and a black bandana around his neck. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or CrimeStoppers at (808) 955-8300. Pic: https://t.co/jtaVyVkGtq
— Honolulu Police (@HonoluluPolice) July 20, 2026
What Police Say Happened
According to Honolulu Police, the man walked into the store, pulled a handgun and demanded property from the clerk. Officers say he then took off on a black moped before they arrived. The department opened a Robbery in the First Degree investigation and reported no injuries. Officers responded to the Kalihi area shortly after the 1:24 a.m. call and have not announced any arrests.
How Witnesses Described the Suspect
Witnesses described the suspect as a Black man in his 30s, about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 tall with a slim build, according to Honolulu Police. He was reportedly wearing a black long-sleeve sweater with a purple number 34 on the back, gray pants, white shoes, white headphones and a black bandana around his neck. Investigators are asking anyone who recognizes that description or has video from the area around the time of the robbery to contact detectives.
Kalihi Crime Backdrop
Kalihi has seen similar armed incidents this year, including other cases where suspects have targeted local businesses and then tried to disappear into the night traffic, as reported by Hawaii News Now. Mopeds have also shown up in past getaways, which can make it tricky for officers working with only a short window to track a fleeing suspect. Police and reporters covering these cases continue to stress the same advice for store workers and bystanders: preserve any surveillance footage and call authorities, rather than confront an armed suspect yourself.
What a First-Degree Robbery Charge Means
Robbery in the first degree is a class A felony in Hawaii and carries some of the state’s most serious potential penalties under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 708-840. Prosecutors will review the evidence gathered by detectives before deciding whether to file formal charges in the case.
How Residents Can Help the Case
Police are asking anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect to call 911. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers Honolulu at 808-955-8300. Investigators say quick tips and clear surveillance footage often make the difference in identifying suspects and pushing cases like this forward.
