2 men charged with Merrie Monarch Festival office burglary, squatting at closed business

Hawai‘i Island police charged two men for breaking into the Merrie Monarch Festival office in Hilo sometime between the mornings of June 18 and 19 and stealing numerous items valued at more than $2,700, including eight replica medals of King Kalākaua.

On June 20, patrol officers responded to a trespassing call in the 390 block of Hualani Street in Hilo in which it was reported that an unknown number of suspects entered a closed business establishment.

Officers arrested 36-year-old Dayson Eblacas of Ewa Beach, Oʻahu, and 30-year-old Makua Amituanai of Pāhoa for first-degree criminal trespass for squatting inside the closed business.

At that business, police recovered property stolen from the Merrie Monarch Festival office, including the medals, numerous electronic devices and clothing items.

On June 21, Eblacas was charged with the following relative to entering the closed business:

• First-degree criminal trespass
• Ownership or possession prohibited
• Third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug: possession of marijuana
• Third-degree promotion of a harmful drug: possession of marijuana concentrates
• Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug: possession of dangerous narcotic (methamphetamine)
• Habitual property crime

In addition, police arrested and charged Eblacas with second-degree theft relative to the Merrie Monarch burglary.

His total bail for both incidents was set at $67,000.

Amituanai was charged with the following offenses relative to entering the closed business:

• First-degree criminal trespass
• Habitual property crime

In addition, police arrested and charged Amituanai with fourth-degree theft relative to the Merrie Monarch burglary. Total bail for Amituanai was set at $12,000.

Both men remain in custody at the East Hawai’i Detention Center pending their initial court appearance scheduled for June 22.

A photo of Dayson Eblacas is not available at this time.