HILO, HAWAIʻI – Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged 40-year-old John Juan-Malak Taliauli of Keaʻau with numerous offenses following an alleged confrontation involving a weapon in Hilo on Monday morning, May 12, 2025.
According to police reports, shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Monday, Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 500 block of Wainaku Street. The call indicated a man was making threats while in possession of a handgun.
Upon arrival, officers contacted a 30-year-old male victim who stated that Taliauli, an acquaintance, had brandished a handgun from his waistband and threatened to kill him before fleeing the area in a vehicle. Responding officers located the suspect vehicle traveling on Kinoʻole Street and pulling into a restaurant drive-thru in downtown Hilo.
Police initiated contact with Taliauli, informing him he was under arrest. However, Taliauli reportedly disregarded officers’ verbal commands. After nearly an hour of negotiation, Taliauli complied and was taken into custody without further incident. The vehicle he was operating was seized as evidence pending a search warrant.
Later on Monday afternoon, May 12, officers with the Area I Crime Reduction Unit executed a search warrant on Taliauli’s vehicle. The search allegedly resulted in the discovery and seizure of a loaded pistol, various types of illegal narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.
On Monday evening, May 12, after consulting with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaiʻi, John Juan-Malak Taliauli was charged with the following offenses:
- First-degree terroristic threatening
- Driving without a valid license
- Place to keep: pistols or revolvers
- Place to keep: ammunition
- Carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on public highway
- Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug (fentanyl)
- Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug (methamphetamine)
- Prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia
Bail for Taliauli was set at $196,000. He remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance, which was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, May 13, in Hilo District Court.
Police expressed their gratitude to the public and restaurant employees for their patience during the incident and apologized for the temporary closure of the drive-thru, which lasted for over an hour.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Officer Manuel Soares of the Area I Crime Reduction Unit at (808) 961-8222 or via email at manuel.soares@hawaiicounty.gov.