KAILUA-KONA — A man remains in critical condition following an assault that occurred early Monday morning in the parking lot of the Kona Seaside Hotel.
Hawaii Police Department Maj. Robert Wagner said Tuesday that the victim, a 63-year-old security guard, is currently on Oahu receiving treatment for “severe, life-threatening injuries.”
Police responded to a report of an assault about 12:30 a.m. Monday, where they found the security guard lying on the ground. Officers determined an assault occurred after a confrontation between the victim and four people occupying an SUV.
The security guard reportedly asked them to turn their music down.
Of the vehicle’s four occupants, three were involved in the assault. Police identified the three as 30-year-old Wesley Samoa of Kona, 30-year-old Lama Lauvao of Honolulu and 41-year-old Natisha Tautalatasi of Honolulu.
On Monday afternoon, all three were charged with second-degree attempted murder. Bond was set at $250,000 for each. Wagner said they likely will be arraigned today in Kona.
Second-degree attempted murder is punishable by life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
A fourth occupant of the SUV, 33-year-old Mahealani Kanehailua of Kona, was arrested Monday on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Wagner said she did not participate in the assault and was not charged in the incident.
Samoa, Lauvao and Tautalatasi all have criminal histories. Samoa was convicted most recently of third-degree assault in July 2017 and was charged several other times for different offenses in the past.
Lauvao was charged in 2009 with accomplice to robbery on Oahu, among other run-ins with law enforcement.
Tautalatasi, along with multiple other criminal incidents stretching back to 1997, pleaded guilty in 2007 to second-degree promoting a dangerous drug on Oahu.
Email Max Dible at mdible@westhawaiitoday.com.
