Miloli‘i Man Faces Terroristic Threatening Charges

A Miloli‘i man is facing terroristic threatening charges and a myriad of other offenses after reportedly damaging and shooting a car in South Kona.

The incidents occurred on Memorial Day, May 31, the first being at 4 p.m. According to Hawai‘i Police Department, Kona Patrol officers first responded to the area of Old Government Road in Captain Cook after an individual reported that an unknown person had damaged two of the victim’s tires.

Later that day, at approximately 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of gunshots in the same area of Old Government Road. When they arrived on scene, they found damage to the same victim’s vehicle consistent with being shot with a firearm. Area checks were conducted, however, the suspect could not be located at the time.

Through the course of their investigation, detectives identified 37-year-old Brian Kahele, of Miloli‘i, as the suspect.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 2, detectives with the Area II Juvenile Aid Section located and arrested Kahele in Kailua-Kona without incident.

Charges against Kahele were filed in Kona’s District Court on Thursday, June 3. He faces two counts of first-degree criminal property damage, first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Kahele appeared in court on Friday, June 4, where Judge Mahilani Hiatt denied the defense’s request for supervised release and maintained bail of $72,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 7.

Anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed this incident, or has information, is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 or Detective Brandon Mansur at 808-326-4646 Ext. 301 or send an email at brandon.mansur@hawaiicounty.gov.