Puna man charged with terroristic threatening and firearms offenses

Rodney Ka‘ahu, 45 of Kiha, was arrested and charged with terroristic threatening, felon in possession and firearms offenses, according to Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Nov. 21, 2022 in the Leilani Estates subdivision.  

Ka‘ahu is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Friday afternoon. He remains in custody in lieu of $132,000 bail.  

As the complaint alleges, Ka‘ahu was charged with terroristic threatening in the first degree; having a firearm and having ammunition as a felon; having a loaded firearm on a public  highway; having parts to assemble a firearm with no serial number; possession of butterfly knives Prohibited; and possession of methamphetamine.  

He has been charged with three class B felony offenses that are punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison or four years probation and up to 18 months in jail. 

The case was initiated by Puna Patrol. The felony investigation was handled by Det. Jeremy Kubojiri, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is  being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elyssa Correia Keltner.