Preliminary hearings have been set for a man and woman facing an array of traffic, property crimes and drug offenses stemming from an incident early Tuesday in Holualoa.
Kainoa Kahoalii, 35, of Kona, and Amanda Evangelista, 42, of Hilo, were arrested Tuesday morning after Kona patrol officers making checks in the area of Holualoa Elementary School contacted the pair inside a vehicle, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
After observing illegal narcotics inside the vehicle, officers instructed Kahoalii to exit the car. Refusing to do so, Kahoalii drove off unexpectedly, almost hitting one officer, police said. He continued to disregard the officer’s orders to stop and subsequently struck two officers’ vehicles with his car.
Kahoalii then allegedly exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Following a short foot pursuit, Kahoalii was taken into custody, police said. Evangelista was taken into custody without incident.
Detectives from Area II Vice Section and the Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation. A search of Kahoalii’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of 87.9 grams — more than 3 ounces — of suspected marijuana, a glass smoking pipe with residue, and various items used for the packaging and use of illegal narcotics.
A preliminary estimate of damages to the officers’ vehicles is in excess of $10,000 each.
Kahoalii was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal property damage, and one count each second-degree reckless endangering, second-degree promoting a detrimental drug, third-degree promoting a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, resisting an order to stop, reckless driving, driving without a license, obedience to a police officer, and parking vehicle prohibited. Kahoalii also had an outstanding bench warrant for $2,000.
Evangelista was charged with third-degree promoting a dangerous drug and tampering with evidence. She also had an outstanding bench warrant for $400.
Kahoalii made his initial appearance in Kona District Court Thursday. During the hearing, Judge Kimberly Taniyama denied defense requests for supervised release or reduced bail and maintained bail at $45,250. He is slated to be back in court Monday for a preliminary hearing during which the state will work to show it has probable cause to support the charges.
Evangelista also made her initial appearance Thursday in Kona District Court. During the hearing, Taniyama denied a defense request for supervised release but granted a reduction in bail from $2,000 to $1,000. Evangelista subsequently posted bail. A preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday was continued to Monday, according to court records.
