Honoka‘a man faces numerous firearm, drug charges

A Big Island man faces several firearm and drug charges after shooting a pig in a residential area outside Honoka‘a.

Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged Ronald Makio, 45, of Honoka‘a was arrested and charged Monday following the incident late the night of Dec. 9 off Honoka‘a-Waipiʻo Road.

Makio faces the following charges:

• First-degree reckless endangering.
• Place to keep loaded firearm not pistols/revolvers.
• Two counts of place to keep ammunition.
• Two counts of ownership or possession prohibited.
• Night hunting on private lands prohibited.
• Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
• Drug paraphernalia.
• Carrying/use of a firearm in commission of a separate felony.

His total bail was set at $162,000. Makio’s initial court appearance was Tuesday in South Hilo District Court.

At 10:19 p.m. Dec. 9, Hāmākua patrol officers responded to a report of multiple gunshots in the area of the 47-4000 block of Honoka‘a-Waipiʻo Road.

Responding officers located Makio next to a white Ford F-150 truck with hunting dogs running around the area. Upon informing Makio about the report of gunshots being heard in the area, Makio told the officers he just shot a pig. Officers were able to locate and recover a black semi-automatic rifle near the truck and a deceased pig in the nearby brush.

Makio was arrested for numerous firearms offenses and transported to the Honoka‘a Police Station for booking and processing.

The truck was also recovered and towed to the Honoka‘a station, pending the execution of a search warrant. Makio was then transported to the East Hawai‘i Detention Facility in Hilo, where he was detained while the investigation continued.

On Monday, detectives with the Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Section executed a search warrant on the truck, recovering two live rounds of ammunition, more than 9 grams of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine-smoking pipe.

Anyone who might have information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua at 808-961-2375 or via email at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.