Full Notification

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area II
Lieutenant Michael Hardie
Phone: (808) 326-4646, ext. 266
Report No. 24-081126

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police have charged 34 year-old Kelvin Malakaua of Kailua-Kona for a burglary and several thefts that took place at separate residences in Kailua-Kona on Thursday, September 4, 2024.

On Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at approximately 6: 40 a.m., Kona patrol officers responded to a report of an active burglary at a residence located on the 74-5100 block of Haleolono Place in Kailua-Kona.

A female victim reported that an unidentified male suspect was observed via video surveillance to enter and rummage through her garage. The male suspect then left in a white Nissan Altima. Officers positively identified the male suspect as Malakaua, who was also the registered owner of the Nissan Altima.

At 11:54 a.m. the same day, officers were dispatched to a separate residence located on the  74-5100 block of Haleolono Place, as a separate victim observed a suspicious male in his backyard via video surveillance. Through investigation, it was determined that the responsible male was again Malakaua. The responsible male suspect had taken piping for a 20'x20' canopy tent from the male victim’s backyard without permission.  The suspect then took the piping to his (suspect’s) family's residence where it was later recovered by officers and returned back to the victim. The suspect was then observed exiting a nearby driveway in a pickup truck, at which time he was arrested for the theft of the piping.

The first victim re-contacted the officers in the area, adding that she just noticed that her Milwaukee flashlight was removed by the male suspect that morning from within her garage.

In close proximity, officers located the Nissan Altima and observed a Milwaukee flashlight on the vehicle’s dashboard matching the description as the one stolen from the female victim. The male suspect was then also arrested for suspicion of burglary for the first incident.

Detectives from the Area 2 Criminal Investigation Section were assigned to continue the investigation and a search warrant was prepared for the Nissan Altima.  On September 5, 2024 the search warrant was executed and detectives recovered items reported stolen by the female victim .  The items included; a Milwaukee brand LED Flood Light, Milwaukee brand battery and a case of Gatorade.  

After conferral with the County Prosecutor’s office, Malakaua was charged with:

Burglary in the 1^st degree

Two (2) counts of Theft in the 3^rd degree

Total bail was set at $56,000.00.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information relative to this investigation to call Detective Len Hamakado of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646, Ext. 224, or via email at [email protected].