Kona man sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery at Black Lava Vape

A man from Kona was sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbing a smoke shop in West Hawai‘i in May.

Auston R. Aini, 40, appeared in 3rd Circuit Court on Monday where Judge Wendy DeWeese passed down the sentence.

He pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery in October in connection to the case. He remained in custody in lieu of $323,000 bail for the duration of these proceedings since being first arrested on May 18, the same day as the incident, which occurred at Black Lava Vape.

Aini was arrested on May 18, not long after the robbery occurred.

According to police reports, Aini pointed what appeared to be a black-colored pistol, later determined to be a BB gun, toward the store employee’s head demanding that she open the register.

Surveillance footage from the shop shows Aini pursuing the employee, a 23-year-old woman, who tried to hide from him in an office. She ultimately complied and opened the register.

Aini removed approximately $260 as well as an unknown amount of money from within a clear tote labeled “Maui Donations” that was located on top of the register.

Aini then got into the front passenger seat of a sedan before leaving the area.

Police also learned that Aini had pointed the same BB gun at another male party whom he instructed to “check out” the scene before the robbery incident.

Second-degree robbery is a class B felony offense punishable by a maximum penalty of a 10-year prison term.