05/22/24 Police arrest three people for illegal cockfighting in Hawaiian Paradise Park

Hawaii Police Department
Vice Department Area I
Deputy Lieutenant Kelly Moniz
Phone: (808) 961-2259
Report No.: 24-045936

Media release

Hawaii Island police arrested a woman and two men in connection with illegal cockfighting in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision.

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 2:40 p.m., members of the Hawaii Police Department’s Vice Division, assisted by members of the Criminal Investigation Division, Puna Patrol, and Homeland Security Task Force officers, executed a search warrant at an apartment on the 18th floor.^Th Avenue in Keaau, where it was estimated that over 100 people attended a cockfighting event.

During a search of the home and property, police seized 25 dead birds, 4 injured birds, cockfighting paraphernalia including gambling records, and a small amount of marijuana. Homeland Security task force officers also seized approximately $20,000 in U.S. dollars.

Officers arrested:

Lehualani K. Kaleiwahea, age 49, of Hilo, for:

• Twenty-nine (29) counts of second degree animal cruelty
• One count of promoting gambling in the first degree
• One count of possession of gambling records in the first degree
• One count of promoting gambling in the second degree

Isaac Dylan H. Ragasa-Kaleiwahea, age 28, of Keaau, for:

• Twenty-nine (29) counts of second degree animal cruelty
• One count of promoting gambling in the first degree
• One count of possession of gambling records in the first degree
• One count of promoting gambling in the second degree

Domonick Uchima, 37 years old, from Keaau, for:

• One count of promoting gambling in the second degree

All three parties were released pending further investigation.

The investigation into this action and its organizers is currently ongoing. Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Scotty Aloy of the Area I Vice Division at (808) 961-2207 or by email at [email protected].

The Hawaii Police Department is committed to working with the community to improve the quality of life for islanders and create a safer environment for all. Police encourage residents to report suspicious and illegal activity to the police non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.

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