Two fugitives taken into custody after months-long manhunt on Hawai‘i Island

Two fugitives wanted in connection to various crimes ranging from criminal property damage to assaulting a police officer were arrested after a months-long manhunt.

Malani Donald Tavui, 40, and Alexander Ikieolagarcia Kauwe, 31, both of Puna, were captured last week. Tavui was taken into custody on Dec. 5 after Hawai‘i Island police followed up on a tip earlier that morning on a stolen vehicle at a residence on Maile Street in Pāhoa.

Puna patrol officers located the vehicle on the property, and discovered Layla Subica, 19, sleeping inside. They confirmed that the car had been reported stolen on Nov. 13. She was arrested without incident.

Knowing Subica had been an acquaintance of Tavui, Hawai‘i Island police were granted permission to check the residence for the 40-year-old, but was not immediately located.

A short time later, members of the Area I Crime Reduction Unit and personnel from the United States Marshal Service, along with Puna patrol officers, located Tavui hiding under a bed in the upstairs of the residence.

The following day, on Dec. 6, Kauwe was taken into custody.

According to police, Puna patrol officers came in contact with the 31-year-old after responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on Rose Street in Mountain View, with a man sleeping in the driver seat.

As officers arrived in the area and attempted to contact the man, later identified as Kauwe, sleeping in the driver seat, he immediately drove off in an attempt to evade officers.

The vehicle struck a tree a short distance away and overturned. Kauwe was taken into custody.

Tavui is being held on $244,750 bail and was charged with the following offenses:

• Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle
• First-degree theft
• Three counts first-degree criminal property damage
• Two counts second-degree criminal property damage
• Three counts Habitual property crime
• Driving without a valid driver’s license (DWOL)
• Two counts first-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle
• Three counts Ownership/possession (firearm) prohibited
• Two counts place to keep pistol or revolver
• Place to keep ammunition
• Three counts of summons or arrest of defendant on probation; commitment without bail (Warrant of Arrest)

Kauwe is being held on $321,000 bail for the following charges:

• First-degree burglary
• Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (UCPV)
• First-degree reckless endangering
• First-degree terroristic threatening
• First-degree criminal property damage
• Second-degree criminal property damage
• First-degree assault police officer
• Four counts Ownership/possession (firearm) prohibited
• Two-counts carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on public highways
• Place to keep pistols or revolvers
• Two counts place to keep ammunition
• Possession of prohibited weapons
• Summons or arrest of defendant on probation; commitment without bail (Warrant of Arrest)

In addition to the above charges against Kauwe, he was also arrested for second-degree attempted murder, stemming from an incident reported on August 24 where Kauwe was involved in a dispute with a 53-year-old man and reportedly shot at the victim’s vehicle multiple times.

The victim was not injured. Upon conferral with the Hawai’i County Prosecutors Office, detectives were advised to release Kauwe pending further investigation. Upon completion of this investigation, it will be routed to prosecutors for review.

The charges against Tavui and Kauwe stem from multiple, island-wide incidents reported over the past several months, investigated by patrol officers, the Area I Crime Reduction Unit, and the Criminal Investigation Division on each side of the island.

Multiple search and arrest warrants were obtained for these individuals and the residences they were known to frequent.

Following the execution of a search warrant on the stolen vehicle Subica was in, she was charged with the following offenses:

• Second-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle
• Place to keep loaded firearm
• Third-degree possession of a dangerous drug
• Second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug
• Place to keep ammunition

Her bail was set at $9,000.

During the months-long investigations and manhunt for Tavui and Kauwe, Hawai’i Island police were assisted by the State of Hawai’i Division of Conservation and Resources, the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hawai’i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

During these investigations, police recovered six illegally owned firearms and five stolen vehicles associated with Tavui and Kauwe. Additionally, police identified several other stolen vehicles they were operating. However, they have not yet been recovered.

Anyone who may have information regarding any investigation involving Tavui and/or Kauwe, is asked to call Detective John Balberde of the Area I Crime Reduction Unit, at 808-961-2272 or email at John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov.