Kona man charged in connection to a slew of vehicle thefts in West Hawai‘i

A 33-year-old man was charged in connection to a spree of vehicle thefts in the Kona District over the past week.

Nakalohe Gersaba appeared in Kona District Monday for an initial appearance before Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya where she reduced his bail from $545,000 to $125,000. The Kona man is facing the following charges:

• Eight counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (auto theft)
• Seven counts of first-degree theft
• Two counts of reckless driving
• Violation of a protective order
• Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle
• Second-degree unauthorized entry of a dwelling
• First-degree terroristic threatening
• Resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle
• Resisting arrest
• Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
• Driving without a license

On June 7 at 7:50 a.m., Hawai‘i Island police responded to a report of a stolen 2020 Jeep Wrangler fronting an address in the 75-5700 block of Lanakoi Place in Kailua-Kona they observed that the Jeep left the area and was being driven by Gersaba, who was a suspect in multiple recent vehicle theft investigations.

When officers attempted a traffic stop, Gersaba refused the officers’ order to stop and fled the area, driving recklessly. According to authorities, Gersaba drove the stolen vehicle to the end of a cul-de-sac in a Kealakehe subdivision where he left the vehicle and fled on foot.

Officers found Gersaba hiding in a nearby residence, which he had entered without permission. Upon attempting to arrest Gersaba, he resisted, requiring three officers to place him in handcuffs. A glass smoking pipe and a packet containing approximately two grams of methamphetamine was located with Gersaba.

At the time of his arrest, Gersaba was already wanted by police as a suspect in at least seven vehicle theft investigations in the Kona area during the past week.

Gersaba is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Anyone with information relative to this investigation is encouraged to call the police department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311. They may also contact Detective Donovan Kohara at 808-960-3118 or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov.