A man told police he was struck numerous times by a metal pipe or piece of rebar by his “hanai brother” while another man said he was purposely hit by a vehicle reportedly carjacked by the alleged assailant, according to court documents filed by police.
The first man, identified in documents as James Nathan III, said that on June 24, he drove to the Hawaiian Acres home of Robert K. Pahio, the hanai brother, after receiving a call from Pahio saying his baby was injured by dogs that were fighting. Nathan reportedly told officers once he arrived, the 33-year-old Pahio struck him several times with the metal object, accused him of having sex with Pahio’s wife and strangled him into unconsciousness.
Documents state Nathan said Pahio then brandished a sledgehammer and demanded the keys to the Honda Element sport-utility vehicle Nathan was driving, which belonged to Nathan’s girlfriend. Nathan, disoriented, found the keys and turned them over, documents state.
Pahio then allegedly demanded Nathan get into the passenger seat and told him he needed to find a $50 bag of meth. Nathan told police he then called the other victim, identified in documents as Frank Williams. Williams told Nathan he could find someone to get the “ice.” Pahio then reportedly drove to Ohai Street in Hilo.
According to Nathan, when they arrived, Williams saw Nathan’s face, figured out Pahio had attacked Nathan, and produced a machete in self-defense. Documents state Pahio then struck Williams with the car then hit a brick wall. Pahio reportedly sped off in the Honda, which had serious front end damage and smoke pouring from the engine compartment.
Both Nathan and Williams sustained serious injuries and were taken to Hilo Medical Center, police said.
Documents state police responding to a traffic collision found a machete at the scene. According to police, a search warrant executed on the Honda turned up a sledgehammer.
Puna patrol officers found Pahio the following morning at his Alula Road home in Hawaiian Acres, documents state. According to police, Pahio sped off in a gold Nissan Murano SUV, leading police on a pursuit on subdivision roads and then on South Kulani Road on Highway 11. Officer Jeremy Kubojiri reported Pahio was dangerously overtaking vehicles and the pursuit was terminated. It was later determined the SUV was stolen, police said.
Police disseminated a public bulletin on Aug. 26 seeking leads on Pahio’s whereabouts. He was arrested Monday and charged Tuesday with two counts each of of first-degree assault and auto theft, plus kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree property damage, leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, resisting an order to stop and driving without a license.
Pahio was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, but his court-appointed attorney, Francis Alcain, requested a psychological examination for his client by three mental health professionals.
Hilo District Judge Robert Crudele granted Alcain’s request and ordered Pahio to return to court at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 22.
Pahio remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $71,010 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
