Kona man arrested following string of assaults that included punching visitor, stabbing, struggle with woman

A West Hawai‘i man faces several charges following a string of assaults the night of Nov. 7 in the Kalaoa area of Kona that reportedly involved a visitor from Oregon being punched, a 25-year-old man getting stabbed and a struggle with a woman.

Hawai‘i Police Department reports 21-year-old Ar Aweni is charged with:

• First-degree terroristic threatening.
• Second-degree assault.
• Two counts of third-degree assault.
• Unlawful imprisonment.
• Harassment.

His bail was set at $16,100. Aweni made his initial court appearance Tuesday in Kona District Court, where his bail was reduced to $5,000 and he was ordered to return Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

That hearing was continued to 9 a.m. Nov. 29 in Kona District Court.

His requests for supervised release have been denied, and while his bail was reduced, Aweni remains in jail.

Kona patrol officers responded at 7:15 p.m. Nov. 7 to a report of an active assault fronting the 73-4200 block of Hawai‘i Belt Road. While officers were en route, another assault was reported near the first assault call.

Police determined through the course of their investigation that three friends, a 38-year-old man, a 25-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, later identified as Aweni, walked to a retail store near the 73-4300 block of Hawai‘i Belt Road.

A 44-year-old man visiting from Oregon pulled up in his vehicle as the three men neared the store’s front door. Aweni reportedly punched the visitor in the shoulder for an unknown reason, causing the man to suffer pain and soreness.

The three men then left the area on foot, heading north on Hawai‘i Belt Road.

The 38-year-old man saw the 25-year-old attempt to thrust kick Aweni as they were walking. He then reportedly saw Aweni pull out a fixed blade knife and stab the 25-year-old in the left hip.

Aweni then fled on foot, with the 38-year-old and bleeding 25-year-old in pursuit.

While he was fleeing from the other two men, Aweni encountered a 49-year-old woman who had pulled into her driveway and gotten out of her vehicle to unlock her front gate.

The woman reported that Aweni approached her and said something like his friends were following him. She said Aweni then placed his hand over her mouth. A struggle ensued and Aweni ended up on top of her, still covering her mouth.

Aweni then fled in an unknown direction.

Responding officers conducted numerous checks; however, they could not immediately locate him. They then issued a “Be On the Lookout” notice to fellow officers.

Detectives from the Hawai‘i Police Department Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation.

Aweni was eventually located at 9:20 p.m. Nov. 9 by Kona patrol officers in the Kailua-Kona area and arrested without incident.

The 25-year-old man was transported the night of the incidents to Kona Community Hospital, treated for a single stab wound and later released.

Anyone with information relative to this investigation is encouraged to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. They can also contact acting Detective Joel Furuto at 808-326-4646, ext. 262, or via email at joel.furuto@hawaiicounty.gov.

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