MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police have a 54-year-old Hilo man in custody for an alleged robbery in Downtown Hilo Wednesday (February 5).

At about 12:03 p.m., police responded to the Moʻoheau bus terminal after receiving a report of a fight. Upon arrival, they contacted a 32-year-old Hakalau man who reported that an acquaintance took an undisclosed amount of money from him while at Moʻoheau Bandstand. When the victim attempted to retrieve the money, the suspect reportedly punched him several times and fled the area.

The victim sustained facial injuries. Fire Department medics took him to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated and later released.

The suspect was identified as a man who frequents the Downtown Hilo area.

At 8:40 a.m. Thursday (February 6), police arrested 54-year-old John Michael Kapahu, who has no permanent address, on suspicion of second-degree robbery. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

Police ask anyone with information on this incident or anyone who may have witnessed it to contact Detective Clarence Davies at 961-2384 or cdavies@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 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 doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.