Puna Man Charged with Burglary, Attempted Theft of Toyota 4Runner

A Puna man faces multiple charges following an incident at the end of January.

According to a press release from the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, 24 year-old Thomas Kaho‘oilihala was charged in connection with a Jan. 30 incident in ‘Āinaloa involving the attempted theft of a Toyota 4Runner.

Hawai’i Police Department officers also recovered a Ford Bronco, which was originally reported stolen Jan. 27 from a Waiākea Uka residence.

According to the complaint, Kaho‘oilihala, a repeat offender with prior convictions for burglary and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, was charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree attempted theft and first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.

If convicted, Kaho‘oilihala faces a mandatory prison term and will not be eligible for probation.

Kaho‘oilihala was also arrested on four outstanding warrants, including two Circuit Court warrants related to revocation of his supervised release. He was later granted supervised release again despite prosecutors’ objection; however, he remains in custody in lieu of $45,000 bail for the new charges.

Kaho‘oilihala is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Hilo Circuit Court on Thursday, Feb. 10.

The case was initiated by HPD officers Taylor Cruz and Calvin Furtado with Puna Patrol and officers Lawrence Matsumoto Jr. and Benjamin Nishimoto of the South Hilo Patrol. The felony arrest and investigation was handled by officers Christopher Fukumoto, Michael Sailer and Sheldon Adviento with HPD’s Special Enforcement Unit Area I Criminal Investigation Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Soong.