A Kona Circuit judge maintained bail Wednesday for a 29-year-old woman charged with attempted murder for allegedly ramming a moped carrying two people June 13.
Deputy Public Defender James Greenberg’s motion for supervised release was rejected by Judge Robert D.S. Kim, who maintained bail at $100,000 for Keola Kama. Bail was set during Monday’s arraignment and plea hearing after a Kona grand jury indicted her July 15. Kama pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Nov. 17.
Kama initially appeared before Kona District Judge Margaret Masunaga on charges of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count each of first-degree criminal property damage, leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury or death, driving without a license and failure to have no-fault motor vehicle insurance in connection with the crash that critically injured a man and woman.
During that hearing, Greenberg motioned for supervised release for his client, whose bail was set by police at $215,500 when she was charged June 14. Despite objection from Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf, Masunaga granted Kama supervised release.
A preliminary hearing was then set for July 14. During the hearing, prosecutors were to show they had probable cause to support the charges filed against Kama; however, the indictment was handed down before the hearing, sending the case directly to Circuit Court.
On Wednesday, Intake Service Center’s Kelcie Makaike told the court that bail studies performed June 15 and July 20 concluded Kama was a moderate risk and while out on supervised release complied with terms and conditions including electronic monitoring while living with her grandmother and four children. Makaike said Kama did not have prior felony convictions and denied drug use.
Greenberg argued that his client had no prior convictions and the community would not be put in danger by granting supervised release.
Wolf rebutted by saying Kama specifically targeted two members of the community, one of which is the father of her children, and the female victim is still hospitalized on Oahu. She also indicated Kama had a prior conviction for failure to appear.
Before ruling on the motion, Kim explained the court looks at the totality of the circumstances; use of instrument or weapon, in this case a vehicle; and extent of injuries.
Based on that criteria, Kim maintained the $100,000 bail.
The charges stem from an incident on Kuakini Highway, fronting the entrance to Old Kona Airport Park, according to the Hawaii Police Department. Police at the scene said a woman driving a sedan rammed a moped carrying two riders, a 30-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman.
The woman, later identified by police as Kama, exited her vehicle and chased the moped’s passenger before fleeing the scene. Officers located the woman a short time later and took her into custody.
The two moped passengers were taken to Kona Community Hospital following the crash and subsequently flown to Oahu for treatment.
Kama remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.
