A 41-year-old Hawaiian Paradise Park man told police he was shot Monday by another man who accused him of having sex with the alleged shooter’s girlfriend, according to court documents.
The victim, identified in documents as Brian Calantoc, reportedly told police that 31-year-old Kamanaokaaina “Mana” Nakooka entered Calantoc’s bedroom holding a black .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun in his left hand, pointed the gun and kept switching his aim from Calantoc’s head to his body.
Calantoc, who told police he had known Nakooka for more than a year, said Nakooka shot him in the right leg after he denied having done anything and twice refused to fight, documents state.
Calantoc was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where emergency room physician Dr. Mark Hansen informed officers Calantoc suffered a fractured right tibia, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. Documents state bullet fragments were visible on the X-ray of the leg.
Police issued a bulletin Tuesday seeking public information to apprehend Nakooka, whom they described as “armed and dangerous.”
Nakooka was arrested later that day on 18th Avenue in HPP. According to police, Nakooka was standing next to the driver’s door of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner reported stolen on Sept. 1, and a 24-year-old woman, Malia Konanui, was in the passenger’s seat.
Nakooka was charged Thursday with first-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening, unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, prohibited possession of a firearm and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
The most severe charge, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.
Konanui was arrested and charged with drug and drug paraphernalia offenses.
During Nakooka’s initial court appearance Friday, Deputy Public Defender Justin Lee requested that Hilo District Judge Charles Hite grant Nakooka court-supervised release without cash bail or that his bail be reduced to $35,000.
Deputy Prosecutor Kim Angay objected, noting “serious offenses … alleging violence with the use of a firearm.” She added Nakooka’s criminal history includes a conviction for domestic abuse, which disqualifies him from legally possessing a firearm.
Hite maintained Nakooka’s bail at $105,000 and ordered him to appear at 2 p.m. Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.
In addition, the judge granted the Tribune-Herald’s request to photograph court proceedings but took measures to limit courtroom photography that are unprecedented, at least in the past decade, in the newspaper’s court coverage where the complaining witness is an adult.
“There will be no filming except on defendant and counsel,” Hite said. “In case … there’s testimony by the complainant, the complainant is not to be filmed.”
Lee, who objected to the Tribune-Herald’s request to photograph — a common objection by defense counsel — also objected to the limitation of photography to just the defendant and counsel. Lee cited, as he did in his original objection, the ability of Nakooka to obtain a fair and impartial jury, should his case go to trial.
“It’s an unusual provision,” Lee said.
Hite turned to Angay, who replied, “I don’t necessarily argue that. I don’t believe it’s relevant to this case.”
“I’m going to keep it the way it is. You can certainly object if this case goes up to Circuit Court,” the judge said.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
