Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged 45-year-old Ronald Makio, of Honoka‘a, with numerous firearm and drug offenses following a shooting incident in a residential area off of Honoka‘a-Waipio Road, late Saturday evening, December 9, 2023.
At 10:19 p.m. on Saturday, Hāmākua patrol officers responded to a report of multiple gunshots in the area of the 47-4000 block of Honoka‘a-Waipio Road.
Responding officers located Makio next to a white Ford F-150 pickup truck with hunting dogs running around the area. Upon informing Makio of the report of gunshots being heard in the area, Makio told the officers that he just shot a pig. Officers were able to locate and recover a black semi-automatic rifle near the pickup truck and a deceased pig in the nearby brush.
Makio was arrested for numerous firearms offenses and was transported to the Honoka‘a Police Station for booking and processing. The pickup truck was also recovered and towed to the Honoka‘a police station pending the execution of a search warrant. Makio was then transported to the East Hawai’i Detention Facility where he was held for continued investigation.
On Monday, December 11, 2023, detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section (CIS) executed a search warrant on the pickup truck, resulting in the recovery of two live rounds of ammunition, more than nine grams of methamphetamine, and a methamphetamine-smoking pipe.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday afternoon, Area I CIS detectives charged Makio with the following offenses:
- First-degree reckless endangering
- Place to keep: loaded firearm not pistols/revolvers
- Place to keep: ammunition (two counts)
- Ownership or possession prohibited (two counts)
- Night hunting on private lands prohibited
- Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
- Drug paraphernalia
- Carrying/use of a firearm in commission of a separate felony
His total bail was set at $162,000. Makio’s initial court appearance was on Tuesday afternoon, December 12, in South Hilo District Court.
Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375, or via email at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.