Arrest Made in Honoka‘a Stabbing Incident

Michael Varize Jr. HPD photo.

Hawaiʻi Island police arrested a Hāmākua man in connection with a stabbing incident in Honoka‘a.

At 8:24 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, police responded to the Hale Hoʻola Hāmākua Emergency Room after a Honokaʻa man arrived by private vehicle with apparent stab wounds to his body.

The 34-year-old victim told police he and his assailant were sitting in the victim’s vehicle on Kamakawiwoʻole Church Road when he was attacked by the suspect following a disagreement.

The victim was later transported by ambulance to the North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital where he remains in guarded condition.

At 1:30 a.m., Wednesday morning, Dec. 13, the suspect, 29-year-old Michael Varize Jr., also of Honokaʻa, was located in Waimea and arrested without incident for second-degree assault. He was taken to the Hilo cellblock while detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continue the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed, or have any information about this incident is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Jesse Kerr of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2377 or http://Jesse.Kerr@hawaiicounty.gov.

This information was provided by the authorities. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.