Hale Nani Escapee Arrested Saturday in Kona

A 31-year-old man accused of escaping last month from the Hale Nani Correctional Facility was arrested Saturday in Kona.

Police said Ryan Jeffries-Hamar, 31, of Kailua-Kona was charged Sunday with second-degree escape in connection with the Aug. 14 incident.

Jeffries-Hamar was captured near the intersection of Highway 11 and Halekii Street. Bail on the escape charge was set at $10,000.

Hale Nani, which is located in the Panaewa area of Hilo, houses inmates on work-release programs and those nearing the end of their sentence and preparing to re-enter the general population.

Toni Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety, said Jeffries-Hamar was on an extended furlough. That meant he did not live at Hale Nani but was required to report in when requested.

Schwartz said Jeffries-Hamar initially reported to the facility Aug. 14 but then left through a kitchen window.

As a result, he was arrested again over the weekend on an outstanding warrant for violating terms of his furlough. No bail was set on that warrant.

Jeffries-Hamar was previously arrested in 2007 on burglary and domestic abuse charges.