UPDATE: Hilo Man Arrested in Connection With County Bus Theft

Kawelo Nakamura. HPD photo.

UPDATE: Aug. 8, 2017

Hawaiʻi Island police have charged  21-year-old Kawelo Nakamura in connection with the theft of a county mass transit bus.

On Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at 3:43 p.m., police located the bus on Route 130 and was able to stop it near the intersection at Kaohuwalu Street in Pāhoa, at which time officers arrested Nakamura who was its operator.

On Monday, Aug. 7, police charged Nakamura with first-degree theft, accident involving vehicle/property damage, first-degree criminal property damage, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and driving without a commercial driver’s license.

Nakamura is being held at the Hilo cellblock in lieu of $13,000 bail pending his initial appearance in South Hilo district court on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

PREVIOUS POST: Aug. 7, 2017

Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested a 21-year-old Hilo man in connection with the theft of a county bus.

Police responded to a 1:47 p.m., report on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, of a hit-and-run traffic accident on Railroad Avenue in Hilo involving a Hawaiʻi County mass transit bus that fled the scene.

No one was injured in the incident. At 2:36 p.m., police were told that the bus was stolen from the county’s Hilo base-yard sometime early Saturday morning.

Police observed the bus on Route 130 and stopped it near the intersection with Kaohuwalu Street in Pāhoa and arrested its operator, Kawelo Nakamura. He was taken to the Hilo cellblock while detectives with the Criminal Investigation Section continue the investigation.

The bus was operable but sustained moderate damage consistent with a traffic accident. Damage estimates are pending.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any other information about it is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Det. Tuckloy Aurello of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or Tuckloy.Aurello@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

This information was provided by the authorities; individuals are considered innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.