Hilo, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Island police are continuing their search for 31-year-old Clyde Loa Jr., one of three men who escaped from the Hale Nani Correctional Facility on Friday, December 13, 2024. While the other two escapees have since been captured, Loa remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
The ongoing effort to locate Loa led authorities to execute a warrant this past Sunday morning, July 20, 2025, at a property in Puna where Loa was believed to be illegally squatting. During the operation at a residence on Io Kea Road (Road 4) in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision, police arrested and charged 34-year-old Cierra Victoria Elderts on two outstanding warrants. Her total bail was set at $15,000. Loa, however, was not located at the scene.
During the search of the property, detectives also recovered a stolen vehicle that had been reported stolen in December 2024. The vehicle has been secured pending the execution of a search warrant.
Police are reminding the public of the serious legal consequences for aiding a fugitive. Anyone who knowingly hinders the apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of a suspect may be charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, which is a Class C felony.
Authorities urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of Clyde Loa Jr. to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or contact Detective Bryson Pilor of the Area I Crime Reduction Unit directly at (808) 961-2272 or via email at Bryson.Pilor@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to caller ID, and tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.