A 31-year-old Kailua-Kona man accused of robbery and assault stemming from a Fourth of July incident on a North Kona beach has been granted supervised release.
A 31-year-old Kailua-Kona man accused of robbery and assault stemming from a Fourth of July incident on a North Kona beach has been granted supervised release.
Kelvin Malakaua made his initial appearance in Kona District Court on Wednesday, during which his counsel requested supervised release for his client. Over the state’s objection, Judge Robert Crudele subsequently granted the motion and set a preliminary hearing for Aug. 4.
Malakaua was charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree assault after police responded shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday to a report of a theft of a backpack that had occurred on the beach within the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Upon arrival, officers met with a 63-year-old man who reported that his backpack and its contents had been stolen by an unknown man, later identified as Malakaua. The victim gave chase resulting in a struggle between the men before Malakaua reportedly fled the area on foot.
As a result of the struggle, the victim suffered minor injuries, but declined medical treatment, according to police.
While speaking with the victim and witnesses, officers were informed that the suspect was walking along the shoreline in close vicinity to where the incident had occurred. Malakaua was contacted by officers and taken into custody for suspicion of robbery.
Anyone who may have been at the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park and witnessed the incident should contact Officer Kiley Loo or Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 ext. 238 or via email at Donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.
