Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged 31-year-old Ocean Keanaluokona Hegent, following a violent assault at a residence in Kea‘au, on Friday evening, May 5, 2023.
On Saturday afternoon, May 6, after conferring with Hawai’i County prosecutors, detectives charged Hegent with the following offenses:
- First-degree assault
- Second-degree assault
- Kidnapping
His bail was set at $85,000 and he remained in police custody pending his initial court appearance Monday, May 8, 2023, in Hilo District Court.
The charges against Hegent stem from an incident reported shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, when Puna patrol officers responded to the Kea‘au Fire Station after the 43-year-old male victim was brought there via private vehicle. He had severe injuries about his head, face, and body, and was immediately transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room. Prior to transport, the victim provided a brief statement to officers, reporting he had been punched and kicked about the face, head, and body, as well as stabbed various times, and identified Hegent as the responsible party.
Officers then responded to a residence on 18th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision in Kea‘au, where Hegent was subsequently located and arrested.
Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives responded to the scene to assist in furthering the investigation.
A search warrant was later executed on the residence, and detectives recovered various knives, nunchucks, and a rope that had been used by Hegent to tie up and restrain the victim.
The victim remains hospitalized.
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Zenas Pacheco of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2384 or email Zenas.Pacheco@hawaiicounty.gov.
