Police seek man who allegedly threatened woman near Honokaa

Hawaii Island police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who allegedly threatened a jogger near Honokaa on April 30.

At 4:30 p.m. April 30, Hawaii Police Department officers responded to the Waipio Valley ranger station, where a 32-year-old woman stated that while running on the Muliwai Trail on Waimanu Valley Ridge, a man jumped out from behind of a tree, holding a knife with a 4- to 6-inch blade, with paracord wrapped around the handle. The man then reached out as if to grab her, attempting to block her path. The female ran around and out of the man’s reach and continued running down the trail.

The suspect is described as being approximately 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing 185 to 200 pounds, with short black hair, a beard and mustache, and hairy arms. He was last seen wearing black pants, a black shirt, and combat-style boots, according to police.

Police are releasing a composite drawing and ask that anyone who may recognize the suspect or has any information about this incident to contact Officer Ellsworth Fontes at (808) 775-7533 or via email to ellsworth.fontes@hawaiicounty.gov or Sgt. Dean Uyetake at dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov. The public may also call the department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.