A well-known Hawaiian entertainer whose music is on five Grammy award-winning slack-key guitar compilation albums was indicted last week by a Kona grand jury on sexual assault and kidnapping charges.
The four-count indictment filed Dec. 13 charges 46-year-old Keoki K. Kahumoku of Hilo with two counts each of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of kidnapping. All charges are Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
A bench warrant issued with the indictment set Kahumoku’s bail at $150,000. He had not been arrested as of late Tuesday.
According to the indictment, the alleged offenses took place between May 5-7, 2015, in Ka‘u. The document states Kahumoku “intentionally or knowingly restrained” the alleged victim, an adult woman, and subjected her “to an act of sexual penetration by strong compulsion” twice.
The Tribune-Herald does not identify alleged sexual assault victims unless they choose to go public.
A search of court records turned up no prior criminal record for Kahumoku, but the complainant and Kahumoku were granted mutual temporary restraining orders against each other on June 8, 2015, by Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas. The orders were issued without any findings of fact.
Another woman was granted a TRO against Kahumoku on Nov. 29, 2016, by Kona District Judge Margaret Masunaga, when Kahumoku failed to appear for the hearing, according to court records.
Reached by phone, Kahumoku declined to comment.
Kahumoku’s website biography describes him as a “fifth-generation slack-key guitarist, ‘ukulele performer and teacher with deep roots in Hawaii.”
He started performing professionally in 1990 with his father, George Kahumoku Jr., and uncle, Moses Kahumoku, at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Kohala Coast. In addition to his music, he is a gifted storyteller on stage.
As a recording artist, Kahumoku has recorded numerous CDs, including solo works, as a duo with ‘ukulele master Herb Ohta Jr., and appears on numerous compilation albums with other Hawaiian music artists, including five that won the now-defunct Grammy for Hawaiian music and another that won a Na Hoku Hanohano award.
Kahumoku also is known as a teacher of Hawaiian music and culture through private lessons, as well as the annual Kahumoku ‘Ohana Music and Lifestyle Workshop in Ka‘u.
His nonprofit Center for Hawaiian Music Studies provides music instruction and cultural opportunities to local youth, according to his website.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
