Update: Hilo kidnapping victim identified; investigation continues

Update at 9:15 a.m. July 10: Big Island police have identified the victim in the kidnapping incident reported July 7 in Hilo as a 23-year-old Puna man. He was located the evening of July 9 in good health. Police did not release the victim’s name and he declined to provide further details regarding the incident.

This investigation is continuing.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is encouraged to contact Detective Kimo Keli’ipa’akaua at 808-961-2375 or via email at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

Original post from 2:26 p.m. July 8: Hawai’i Island police are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a potential kidnapping victim and three suspects which occurred in the early evening of July 7 in Hilo.

On July 7 at about 6:55 p.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to a shopping center located on the 2100 block of Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo for a report of an affray.

Responding officers determined the victim had arrived at the location in a silver 2003 Honda Accord and parked facing Kanoelehua Avenue.

A short time later, an early 2000s model white Toyota Tundra crew-cab pickup truck arrived and parked behind the Honda Accord. Three males exited the truck and approached the victim, who was standing outside of his vehicle, and began to assault him. The three males then forced the victim into the back seat of the Tundra and left the area.

Cellphone video of the incident has been recovered. However, police are unable to identify the victim, suspects or any of the vehicles. A check of the Honda’s license plate and vehicle identification number did not produce any leads on identifying the victim or registered owner.

The kidnapping victim is depicted in the attached photographs wearing a high-visible green t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. The silver Honda Accord depicted in the photographs was operated by the victim.

Two of the kidnapping suspects depicted in the attached photographs are wearing black long-sleeved or hoody-type tops and shorts, and the other suspect is depicted wearing a black T-shirt and shorts. The white Toyota Tundra depicted in the photographs is the vehicle the suspects arrived in, and also the vehicle they forced the victim into prior to leaving the scene.

Anyone with information on the victim and his vehicle, or the suspects and the suspects’ vehicle, are encouraged to contact Detective Kimo Keli’ipa’akaua of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2375, or at email address kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program that does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.