A Big Island man was arrested Dec. 30 on suspicion of attempted murder and other offenses after an alleged shooting incident on a North Hawaiʻi highway early that morning in Kawaihae.
Alexander Alika Akau III
Hawai‘i Police Department detectives arrested 39-year-old Alexander Alika Akau III of Waikōloa Saturday afternoon.
He is being detained in the Kona Police Station cellblock on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree reckless endangering, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway and reckless driving.
He has not yet been charged with any crimes.
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At about 3:55 a.m. Saturday, South Kohala patrol officers responded to an area known as LSD Beach near Kawaihae Harbor after a 29-year-old Kapaʻau man reported that a few minutes before he called police he was shot at while driving his vehicle on ʻAkoni Pule Highway.
Police determined the victim was traveling southbound in a mid-sized SUV on the highway in the area of the entrance to Kohala Ranch when he encountered a sedan, also traveling south on the highway and moving erratically.
The victim overtook the sedan with his SUV, at which point the car’s driver brandished a firearm and discharged it in the direction of the victim’s vehicle.
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The victim’s SUV was damaged by the gunshot; however, the victim was not injured.
In the course of their investigation, police determined the possible suspect in the shooting incident, Akau, was an acquaintance of the victim.
With information about the suspect’s identity, South Kohala patrol officers conducted a check at a residence in the 68-1800 block of Pau Nani Street just after 3:30 p.m. Saturday and arrested Akau.
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He was transported to the Kona Police Station cellblock as detectives continued to investigation. A vehicle thought to be the sedan Akau was driving earlier in the day was also recovered and towed to the Kona station.
Anyone with information about this incident or who might have witnessed the events leading up to it are encouraged to contact Acting Detective Joel Furuto at 808-326-4646, ext. 281, or via email at [email protected]. They can also call the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.
Those who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.
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