Bail maintained, fitness exam ordered for Honoka‘a man charged with electronic enticement of child

A 23-year-old Honoka‘a man remains behind bars following his initial court appearance for allegedly using social media to entice a 14-year-old girl into sex acts.

Hawai‘i County prosecutor’s office reports Kainalu Palik appeared the morning of June 25 in Kona District Court.

He is charged with first-degree electronic enticement of a child, a Class B felony that carries a mandatory 10-year prison term if convicted. Police reports say Palik used Snapchat — a multi-media instant messaging and social media app — between June 13 and 22, in the pursuit of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

He was arrested June 22 in the parking lot at Parker Ranch Center in Waimea.

Palik’s defense counsel Thursday requested he receive supervised release, but the court denied the request and his bail was maintained at $50,000. The court further approved a request by the defense for an exam to determine Palik’s fitness to proceed and responsibility.

He was ordered to return July 28 to Kona District Court.

The felony investigation was led by Hawai‘i Police Department Area II Juvenile Aid Section Detectives Carrie Akina and Wyatt Kaili-Leong with assistance from Area II Criminal Investigation Section Detective Chandler Nacino and Area I Criminal Investigation Section Detective Lisa Ebesugawa.

Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf is prosecuting the case.