Trials were set Monday for a man charged in a Thanksgiving night shotgun slaying in Hilo and another man authorities say was wanted for violating a prison furlough when he allegedly pulled a pistol on police officers in Hilo. ADVERTISING
Trials were set Monday for a man charged in a Thanksgiving night shotgun slaying in Hilo and another man authorities say was wanted for violating a prison furlough when he allegedly pulled a pistol on police officers in Hilo.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ordered 34-year-old Kalani Lono Kaohimaunu to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. April 25 before Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara.
Kaohimaunu is charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, being a felon in possession of a firearm and illegally carrying a firearm.
He’s accused of shooting 39-year-old Keola Penovaroff to death on the night of Nov. 26 outside the West Kawailani Street home that Penovaroff’s girlfriend, Venus Mitchell, and Mitchell’s mother, Bonnie Mitchell Fox, were renting from Kaohimaunu’s mother, Kathie Kaohimaunu.
Court records indicate Kathie Kaohimaunu was engaged in a landlord-tenant court dispute with the renters at the time of the shooting.
“At this time, we’ll waive oral reading of the charges, enter pleas of not guilty to all of the charges contained in the indictment and denials of all of the allegations,” Kalani Kaohimaunu’s court-appointed attorney, Christopher Bridges, told Nakamura during Monday’s arraignment.
Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville told the judge “there’s still some DNA work being done” on the murder case.
Kaohimaunu remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $1 million bail.
In an unrelated case, 26-year-old Joshua Lopes-Keli pleaded not guilty to charges of escape, first-degree terroristic threatening, resisting arrest and numerous drug and firearms charges.
Police allege Lopes-Keli pulled a Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun on officers attempting to arrest him for violating furlough in the early morning of Dec. 6 in a Rainbow Drive parking lot.
Police managed to wrest the weapon from Lopes-Keli and subdue him with a Taser, according to court documents.
Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa said prosecutors have made a plea offer to Lopes-Keli, who was serving time for second-degree robbery at the time of the alleged offenses.
“That offer is still on the table. Mr. Lopes-Keli is seriously considering it, so a plea change may be forthcoming,” Ebesugawa told the judge.
Nakamura ordered Lopes-Keli to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. April 11 before Hara.
Lopes-Keli remains in custody at HCCC in lieu of $119,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
