07/13/24 (Update #2) Robbery suspect charged in downtown Hilo

Hawaii Police Department
Division I Criminal Investigation Department
Lieutenant Zachary Fernando
Phone: (808) 961-2252
Report No.: 24-062698

Media release

Hawaii Island Police have charged 32-year-old Kukaua Keli’iho’oluhi Kaupe Bright in connection with a robbery that occurred in downtown Hilo on Tuesday afternoon, July 9, 2024.

Bright, of no fixed address, was arrested in downtown Hilo at 3:15 p.m. on July 12, 2024. Later that evening, after consultation with the Hawai’i County District Attorney’s Office, Bright was charged with the following offenses:

• Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the first degree
• Third degree assault
• Fourth degree theft
• Unauthorized possession of personal confidential information

Bail was set at $12,100.00

Bright will remain in custody at the East Hawai’i Detention Facility pending his first court appearance on Monday, July 15, 2024, due to his inability to post bail.

On July 9, 2024, at approximately 2:55 p.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to a reported assault on Ponahawai Street in Hilo after two men reported they had been assaulted while working as surveying contractors for the County of Hawaii. The men stated that shortly before calling police, they were conducting a drone survey on Ponahawai Street when several men approached them.

The victims reported that the men appeared angry and began loading their equipment into their vehicle in an attempt to flee and avoid a confrontation. As the victims attempted to drive away, the men stopped them and asked them what they were doing in the area.

After the victims explained to the men who they were and what task they had been hired to do, two of the men began attacking the victims while they were sitting in their vehicle. The victims sustained facial injuries, with one victim suffering a broken tooth. One of the suspects reached into the vehicle and stole a driver’s license and a drone pilot’s license belonging to one of the victims. The two victims then drove away to avoid further attacks.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information related to this investigation to call Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division at (808) 961-2378 or email [email protected].

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