Honolulu police are asking the public for help identifying a suspect in what officers describe as a serious assault involving a kupuna in Kailua. Sgt. Ed Ho highlighted the case during CrimeStoppers Honolulu's regular appeal for tips, and investigators say a reward of up to $1,000 is on the table for information that leads to an arrest.
The case was featured on KITV's Island Life Live segment on September 10, where Sgt. Ho regularly presents active unsolved cases and surveillance footage to generate community tips, according to Hoodline's earlier coverage of the media partnership. Police have asked the public to help identify the suspect in the assault, which occurred in Kailua.
Kailua falls under Honolulu Police Department Patrol District 4, the department's geographically largest patrol district, covering Windward Oahu from Makapuu Point to Kawela Bay and operating out of the Kaneohe Police Station with substations in Kailua and Kahuku, per the same account. Major violent felony investigations that originate in District 4 are distinct from routine patrol coverage.
How Hawaii's Kupuna Protection Law Applies
Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 707-711, intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a person 60 years of age or older is classified as assault in the second degree, a Class C felony, the report notes. A conviction on that charge carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in state prison and a maximum fine of $10,000, per the same account.
The felony classification stems from legislation then-Governor David Ige signed in July 2021, House Bill 490, known as Act 147, which created enhanced criminal penalties for intentional crimes — including bodily injury, theft, and unauthorized entry — committed against kupuna aged 60 and older, according to the report. The law reflects a broader statewide push to protect Hawaii's aging population, which the U.S. Census Bureau estimates put at 22.6% of the state's total residents 65 and older in 2025 figures released in June.
Recent Enforcement Under the Statute
The Kailua case follows a similar arrest earlier this summer. In August, Honolulu police arrested a 34-year-old man in Waianae on suspicion of second-degree assault of an elder after an attack on a 73-year-old neighbor, illustrating ongoing local enforcement under the state's kupuna protection statute, as detailed in Hoodline's prior report on a Waianae kupuna assault arrest.
CrimeStoppers Honolulu operates as an independent nonprofit in partnership with HPD, and its track record shows the tip line gets real results. In fiscal year 2025, the organization processed anonymous tips and forwarded reports to law enforcement, contributing to the resolution of active cases. Cash rewards of up to $1,000 are available for anonymous tips that lead to an arrest or conviction in felony cases, though organization reports indicate many tipsters choose to decline the cash payout altogether.
How to Submit a Tip
Any tip in the Kailua case must lead to an arrest to qualify for the reward. Tipsters can submit information anonymously by calling CrimeStoppers Honolulu at 808-955-8300, visiting honolulucrimestoppers.org, or using the P3 Tips app.
For relatives or witnesses calling from outside Oahu, CrimeStoppers Honolulu accepts anonymous tips by phone. HPD lists (808) 529-3111 for its headquarters.
