Hawai‘i Island police have charged two men following a late night dispute in the Orchidland subdivision in Puna.
After conferring with the County Prosecutors Office, at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, March 24, 2022, detectives charged 45-year-old Albert Kealoha Mahi Jr. and 47-year-old Vincenso Giovanni Gilbert.
Mahi was charged with first-degree assault, and first-degree burglary. His bail was set at $50,000. Gilbert was charged with first-degree burglary for his role in the incident. His bail was set at $25,000. Both men remain in police custody pending their initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon, March 28, in Hilo District Court.
The charges against Mahi and Gilbert stem from a late night incident that occurred at a residence on 38th Avenue in Orchidland. Shortly after 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, Puna patrol officers responded to the residence for a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 24-year-old male who stated he had been stabbed multiple times. The two suspects were reportedly acquaintances of the stabbing victim, and had come to the residence shortly before the violent confrontation.
The victim was transported by ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He was admitted and later upgraded to stable condition.
Area I Criminal Investigation Section personnel responded to the scene to continue this investigation.
Mahi and Gilbert left the area prior to police arrival. On Wednesday morning, March 23, 2022, shortly after 10:30 a.m., police located the two suspects at a residence on Shell Road in the Nanawale Estates subdivision. Both men were arrested in connection with the stabbing incident, as well as for outstanding warrants.
Upon arrest, Mahi was taken to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of multiple stab wounds and a head injury he reportedly had received during the confrontation. He was later released from the hospital.
Police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Casey Cabral at (808) 961-2384 or email him at Casey.Cabral@hawaiicounty.gov or call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.