Hilo man indicted in 2019 murder case

A Hilo Grand Jury indicted a Hilo man in connection to a murder that occurred in 2019.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ekolu Keolanui was indicted on charges of second-degree murder in connection to a domestic incident on July 19 at Malama Park in Panaewa where he allegedly strangled his girlfriend 24 year-old Sable Keffer-Young.

Keolanui is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Friday in Hilo Circuit Court. Keolanui remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail in this case.

“Obtaining this indictment is the first step to seeking justice for Sable Keffer-Young and her ‘ohana,” said Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen.

Waltjen also recognized the work of Hawai‘i Police Department Detective Derek Morimoto, Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins, the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, and all of the officers who played a role in the investigation, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Hashizaki, who will be handling the prosecution of this case.”