Man sought in armed robbery of restaurant in Kealakekua

Hawaiʻi Island police are seeking the public’s assistance with identifying a man responsible for an armed robbery Tuesday evening at a Kealakekua restaurant in West Hawaiʻi.

Kona patrol officers responding at 8:30 p.m. to a reported robbery at an eatery in the 81-6000 block of Māmalahoa Highway. Police declined to name the restaurant.

Kona patrol officers learned that an unknown male entered the establishment brandishing a handgun and demanding money from an employee. The man ran in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to the police news release.

The male suspect is described as being in his 20s to mid-30s, caucasian with a slender build, 6 feet tall and 180 to 200 pounds. The suspect wore dark-colored pants and a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt.

The Area II Criminal Investigation Section is conducting this investigation, which is classified as a first-degree robbery.

Police ask that anyone who may know the suspect’s identity to call the police department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311 or Det. Sheldon Nakamoto of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at 808-326-4646, ext. 228. Information also can be emailed to sheldon.nakamoto@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.