Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 31-year-old Michael Kamahele of Hilo, and 27-year-old Jessinie Akui of Volcano, with an array of theft, firearms, and drug offenses following a burglary in the Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) subdivision in Kea‘au on the evening of Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Around 7:36 p.m.,police responded to a reported burglary at a residence in the 15-2000 block of 3rd Avenue in HPP. The 79-year-old homeowner reported that his white 2007 Ford van was stolen along with numerous items from within his residence, including two shotguns.
As officers conducted neighborhood checks, they learned that a nearby neighbor reported seeing a white convertible Ford Mustang with a black top parked within the victim’s garage during the alleged burglary.
Later that evening, around 11:56 p.m., an officer conducting area checks for the vehicles located the stolen Ford van and the Ford Mustang in the area of Orchidland Drive and 36th Avenue.
As the officer approached the vehicles from the rear, he observed a female party, later identified as Akui, standing in between the vehicles. As the officer gave loud verbal commands to stop, Akui ran and entered the driver’s side of the Ford Mustang, driving it 60 feet before coming to a stop.
The officer then saw a man, later identified as Kamahele, sitting in the driver’s seat of the stolen van.
As additional officers arrived on scene, they conducted an exterior check of the Ford Mustang and observed a clear, unknown type of bag containing a green, leafy substance, believed to be marijuana, on the vehicle floorboard between the front passenger seat and door. Akui was subsequently arrested for third-degree promoting a detrimental drug. While Akui was being arrested, officers recovered a clear ziploc-type baggie from her jacket pocket containing 2.5 grams of a white crystal-like substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.
Checking the exterior of the stolen van, officers observed in plain view a wooden buttstock and rusted barrel of an older-style firearm behind the driver’s seat, as well as a dark-colored soft rifle case. Kamahele was arrested for the theft of the van and possession of the firearms.
The two vehicles were recovered pending the execution of search warrants.
After executing a search warrant on the van, detectives recovered two functioning shotguns, and a clear, glass pipe with a bulbous end containing a crystal-like substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.
After executing a search warrant on the Ford Mustang, detectives recovered a clear, unknown type of bag containing 8.16 grams of a green, leafy substance that tested presumptive positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). They also recovered items from the burglarized residence, including live shotgun ammunition, the victim’s U.S. passport, vehicle registration, vehicle title, insurance for the van, as well as other miscellaneous items belonging to the victim.
On Saturday, March 9, after conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section charged Kamahele with the following offenses and his bail was set at $36,500:
- First-degree theft (motor vehicle)
- First-degree theft (theft from building)
- Place to keep unloaded firearms, not pistols/revolvers
- Third-degree promoting a dangerous drug (possession of dangerous narcotic: methamphetamine)
- Ownership or possession prohibited
- Habitual property crime
Akui was charged with the following offenses and her bail was set at $12,200:
- Driving without a valid driver’s license
- Third-degree promoting a dangerous drug (possession of dangerous narcotic: methamphetamine)
- Third-degree promoting a detrimental drug (possession of marijuana)
- Fourth-degree theft
- Place to keep ammunition
- Unauthorized possession of personal confidential information
Both Kamahele and Akui were held at the Hawai‘i Police Department East Hawai‘i Detention Center pending their initial court appearance on Monday, March 11, in Hilo District Court.
Those with information regarding this crime may contact Detective Christopher Jelsma at christopher.jelsma@hawaiicounty.gov or at (808) 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.