A 25-year-old Hilo man who was the subject of a police wanted bulletin was taken into custody Wednesday night.
Timothy Michael Kaleo ‘O Kalani Kahooilihala was charged with first- and second-degree assault, as well as contempt of court.
According to police, the assault charges come from an incident that occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Maile Street in Hilo.
A 21-year-old man told officers he’d been punched with “brass knuckles” numerous times to the head, face and body by Kahooilihala. The victim was taken to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room where he was treated for his injuries, which doctors classified as “serious and substantial.”
No update was given on the victim’s condition or if he was admitted to the hospital.
At Kahooilihala’s initial court appearance Thursday afternoon, Deputy Public Defender Arthur Indiola asked Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach to free his client on supervised release without monetary bail or a reduction in his $35,000 bail.
Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Son objected to the defense’s motion, and the judge denied it.
Laubach maintained Kahooilihala’s bail at its original amount and ordered him to return to court at 2 p.m. Monday for a preliminary hearing.
First-degree assault is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, while second-degree assault is a Class C felony that carries a maximum five-year prison term, upon conviction.
Kahooilihala remained in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center as of late Thursday afternoon.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.