Hawai‘i Island police commend public for helping locate jail escapee

Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 28-year-old Ainakailani Akui who escaped from the Hale Nani Correctional Facility on Thursday at 10:35 a.m.

Police received multiple calls from community members who reported seeing Akui at a shopping center in the 15-2700 block of Pāhoa Village Road in Pāhoa. Puna patrol officers located and arrested Akui at the shopping center at 5:55 p.m. on Thursday. He was taken to the Puna District police station where he was booked, processed, and held for continued investigation.

On Friday morning, detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section charged Akui with second-degree escape pending conferral with the County Prosecutor’s Office. His bail was set at $10,000.

Akui is being held at the East Hawai‘i Detention Center pending his initial court appearance in South Hilo District Court on Monday.

The Hawai’i Police Department added it was community members who called in to report seeing Akui, which ultimately led to his quick arrest.

Those with information regarding this crime can also contact Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua at 808-961-2375 or at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.