Suspect Arrested in Connection with County Bus Theft

Kawelo Nakamura. HPD photo.

Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested a 21-year-old Hilo man in connection with a stolen county bus.

Hawai‘i County employees reported today at 1:36 a.m., that the lock on the gate to the Mass Transit baseyard was cut and the gates were found opened.

Reports received indicated that a 42-passenger bus was taken from the base yard and that may have been seen heading in the Hāmākua direction over the Wailuku Bridge on Highway 19 and later on Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway near Mauna Lani.

At 6:24 a.m., police briefly pursued the bus after it was observed traveling into Hilo on Bayfront Highway, but the pursuit was discontinued in the interest of public safety.

At 6:45 a.m., the bus was located behind the Walter Victor Stadium, where the suspect, Kawelo Nakamura, was taken into custody and transported to the Hilo cellblock while detectives with the Criminal Investigation Section continue the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any other information about it is asked to call the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Todd Pataray of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2382 or Todd.Pataray@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

This information was provided by the authorities. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.