Full Notification

Hawai‘i Police Department
Criminal Investigation Section- Area I
Lieutenant Zachary Fernando
Phone: (808) 961-2378
Report No.: 24-062698

Media Release

The Hawai‘i Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance with any information relative to a robbery that occurred on Tuesday afternoon, July 9, 2024, near the County of Hawai’i homeless camp located off of Ponahawai Street and the lower parking lot of a business located on the 300 block of Kilauea Avenue in Hilo.

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 2:55 p.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to a church located on the 500 block of Ponahawai Street in Hilo, after two men reported being assaulted while working as survey contractors for the County of Hawai’i. The men reported that just prior to calling police, they were conducting drone surveying of the County of Hawai’i homeless camp located off of Ponahawai Street, when several homeless looking males began walking towards them.

The victims reported that the males seemed unhappy so they began loading their equipment into their vehicle in an attempt to leave and avoid confrontation. As the victims were attempting to drive off, they were stopped by the males who surrounded their vehicle. The males questioned the victims as to what they were doing in the area. The victims informed the males of who they were and the job the were hired to do.

At this time, the males stated that they don’t care and then began assaulting the victims while they were seated in their vehicle. The victims received injuries to their faces, with one of them also sustaining a chipped tooth. One of the of the males reached in and took one of the victim’s driver’s license and drone pilot license. The two victims then drove off to avoid being further assaulted.

The first suspect is described as being a local male of Asian/Pacific Islander descent, with a tanned complexion; who is approximately 6-feet tall; possibly bald; bareback, wearing board shorts and sunglasses; with tattoos on his arms, stomach and chest.

The second suspect is described as being a local male with a tanned complexion, tall, approximately 200 plus pounds, wearing a gray shirt, with short hair.

Police are continuing the investigation by checking businesses for video surveillance and canvassing the downtown Hilo area for any witnesses who may be able to identify the two suspects. Anyone with information relative to this incident is encouraged to call Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378, or via email at [email protected].