Hilo man charged with burglary, stealing firearms and drug possession

Hiram Kawelu III, 34 of Hilo, was arrested and charged with 11 offenses, including burglary, theft of two firearms, felon in possession of guns and ammunition, possession of oxycodone and terroristic threatening, Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said.

The charges arise from an Oct. 16 incident on the shoulder of Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook and a Nov. 2 burglary from a residence on 34^th Avenue in Orchidland.

On Nov. 3, Kawelu was arrested after officers located him in a vehicle parked fronting a business on Kalara Street in the Shipman Industrial Park.  

Kawelu, who has multiple prior felony convictions, was charged with 11 offenses in two separate criminal cases.

In the East Hawai‘i case, Kawelu was charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, first-degree theft of AR-15 style rifle, possession of a firearm as a felon, ownership/possession of ammunition as a felon, possession of oxycodone.

In the West Hawai‘i case, Kawelu was charged with first-degree theft of a .22 caliber pistol, possession of a firearm as a felon, ownership/possession of ammunition as a felon, and first-degree terroristic threatening.

The most serious offenses, possession of a firearm as a felon, first-degree burglary and first-degree theft are all class B felony offenses, which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Kawelu made his initial appearance on Monday afternoon in Hilo District Court. His total bail was maintained at $144,500 and he was ordered to appear for his preliminary hearing on  Nov. 9, 2022 in Hilo District Court.