Hilo, Hawaiʻi – Douglas Louis, 44, of Pāhala, has been arrested and charged with multiple methamphetamine and firearms offenses following a report of suspicious vehicles in the early morning hours of July 12, 2025, on Kupuna Place in Hilo.
According to Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen, following the execution of search warrants on a vehicle Louis was operating, police recovered over 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine. They also seized several firearms, including two “ghost guns” (unserialized and untraceable firearms), an AR-15 style rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a Ruger .22 caliber rifle, and ammunition. Louis was also arrested on three other unrelated outstanding warrants.
Louis made his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Monday afternoon. His bail was maintained at $485,000.00, and he has been ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 16, 2025.
The criminal complaint alleges Louis is charged with:
- Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree (possess one ounce or more of methamphetamine)
- Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree
- Place to Keep Pistol or Revolver
- Place to Keep Ammunition
- Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree
- Ownership, Possession or Control of Ammunition Prohibited
- Three counts of Ownership, Possession or Control of Firearm Prohibited
- Three counts of Permits to Acquire
- Three counts of Registration Mandatory
- Two counts of Place to Keep Unloaded Firearms Other Than Pistols and Revolvers
- Two counts of Ownership Prohibited (“ghost gun”)
The most serious offense, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree, is a Class A felony and carries a penalty of either a twenty-year prison term or ten years probation and up to two years in jail. Place to Keep Pistol or Revolver and Ownership, Possession or Control Prohibited are both Class B felony offenses, carrying a penalty of either a ten-year prison term or four years probation and up to eighteen months in jail.
The charges are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was initiated by South Hilo Patrol. The felony investigation was led by Detective Lisa Ebesugawa, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, and assisted by Officer Spencer Thomas, VICE-East, Hawaiʻi Police Department. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Malate is prosecuting the case.