2 Hilo men charged after park wreck

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Two Hilo men were arrested by federal authorities Sunday after a pickup truck crashed into an ohia tree in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Two Hilo men were arrested by federal authorities Sunday after a pickup truck crashed into an ohia tree in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

According to HVNP Chief Ranger Talmadge Magno, 26-year-old Hiram D.K. Kawelu was charged Monday with driving under the influence, failure to maintain control of vehicle and driving without a license. His passenger, 22-year-old Cole Devin Evans-Tanigawa was charged with making a false statement “in regards to his identification,” Magno said.

Magno said the two were released after being taken before a Hilo District Court judge for a signature bond but “the police department re-arrested them right away.”

Kawelu was booked on suspicion of auto theft and Evans-Tanigawa on suspicion of unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle. Neither were charged as of Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

The two will be arraigned in U.S. District Court on the federal charges, Magno said.