A Hilo man has been arrested again just a week after his release from custody by Judge Jeffery Hawk. Hawaii County Prosecutors as well as Intake service workers requested that Nathan Kalani Niihau be held in custody at the very least bail be set. But Judge Jeffery Hawk was not having any of that and released Niihau on supervised release with a string of crimes in his wake and a handful more to on the horizon.

Today, Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen and Hawaii Police Department announced that Nathan Ni‘ihau, is back in custody. Ni‘ihau was charged for the theft of a Nissan Frontier and miscellaneous tools from HPM, criminal property damage of gates at HPM and of a private home owner in Hakalau. He rammed into the galvanized gate of a residence in Hakalau and later led police on a short vehicle pursuit in Hilo in a stolen Nissan Frontier over the Fourth of July weekend.

Prior to his apprehension, Niihau was identified operating the stolen Nissan truck on several occasions.

As the Complaint alleges, Ni‘ihau was charged with two counts of Theft in the First Degree, including the theft of a Nissan Frontier and over $20,000.00 worth of tools from HPM, two counts of Criminal Property Damage in the First Degree for damaging gates at two locations, Unauthorized Control of Propelled Vehicle, Burglary of a Building During an Emergency Period, and Resisting an Order to Stop a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree.

According to court records, at the time of his arrest, Ni‘ihau was on supervised release for three unrelated felony matters.

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, Niihau was arrested while operating a stolen Jeep. After further investigation and execution of a search warrant on the vehicle, he was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (UCPV), first-degree theft, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, theft of credit card, and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information. His bail was set at $75,000. Upon appearing the following day in Hilo District Court, and at the objection of prosecutors, Niihau was granted supervised release.

Ni‘ihau was also arrested for outstanding warrants for revocation of his supervised release and for Criminal Contempt of Court.

And earlier last month, on June 1, Niihau was linked to a burglary of a county facility on the 1000 block of Kino‘ole Street in Hilo. That case has been routed to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.  

Ni‘ihau made his initial appearance today in Hilo District Court. Judge M. Kanani Laubach denied Ni‘ihau’s request for supervised release and maintained his bail at $136,000.00. Judge Laubach ordered Ni‘ihau to appear for his preliminary hearing on July 13, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. in Hilo District Court.

Police want to remind the public that in light of Governor Ige’s current Covid-19 emergency proclamation, that there are enhanced penalties for certain offenses, including burglary, theft, criminal property damage, and robbery.