Pahoa man arrested, charged following ‘violent altercation’

Police have arrested and charged 45-year-old Kiha Rodney Stone Kaahu of Pahoa with terroristic threatening, numerous firearm-related and other offenses following a violent altercation Monday in the Leilani Estates subdivision in Pahoa.

The charges against Kaahu stem from an incident reported shortly after 10:45 a.m. Monday, when Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on Luana Street in Leilani Estates for a reported shooting.

Responding officers contacted the 20-year-old female victim who reported she and Kaahu were involved in a verbal argument when he allegedly pulled out a pistol, pointed it at her, and fired a single shot at her.

The victim was not hit by the bullet and did not receive any injuries during the altercation. Kaahu and the victim are acquaintances.

Immediately after the shooting, Kaahu reportedly left the area as a passenger in a gray-colored older model Isuzu SUV-type vehicle.

The Area I Criminal Investigation Section was contacted to assist in the investigation and while en route to the scene, detectives made checks at a residence on Maile Street in Leilani Estates that Kaahu is known to frequent.

The Isuzu SUV was on the property, and as officers approached, Kaahu was seen sleeping in the vehicle’s front passenger seat. He was subsequently arrested. Upon arrest, Kaahu allegedly had a butterfly knife in his pants pocket, and a soft pistol case was observed at his feet on the vehicle floorboard.

The Isuzu was recovered as evidence. After obtaining a search warrant to search the vehicle, detectives later recovered the loaded un-serialized pistol, ammunition, and a minute amount of methamphetamine, police said.

Kaahu remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday afternoon in Hilo District Court. His bail is set at $132,000.