A 31-year-old Ocean View man has been indicted for a single-vehicle crash in South Kona almost 19 months ago that killed an 18-year-old Ocean View man.
The six-count indictment returned by a Kona grand jury on Dec. 12 charges Bruce Kuahapio Kahele, 31, of Ocean View with manslaughter, first-degree negligent homicide, second-degree negligent injury, second-degree reckless endangering, DUI and driving without the proper child passenger restraints.
According to police, Kahele was the driver of a black 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that on May 21, 2021 at about 8:25 p.m. was southbound on Highway 11 near the 95-mile marker when he ran off the makai shoulder of the roadway. The truck struck a tree and rolled over, police said.
Alona Taetuna-Kaluau was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:24 a.m. on May 22, 2021.
Kahele and a then 6-year-old boy also were transported to Kona Community Hospital. The boy, identified only by his initials, suffered a bone fracture, according to the indictment.
According to police, the boy was admitted to the hospital “for observation,” while Kahele was treated and released.
Kahele was arrested after his release from the hospital last year, but was released from police custody without being charged within 48 hours pending further investigation.
The indictment states Kahele was legally drunk when the crash occurred, meaning he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.08% or more.
Although Kahele is charged with manslaughter, a Class A felony with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years upon conviction, and first-degree reckless homicide, a Class B felony that carries a possible 10-year prison term, he can only be convicted on one of the two offenses for Taetuna-Kaluau’s death.
According to a police log, Kahele was arrested Thursday on the indictment, and was released after posting $20,000 bail.
He is scheduled for arraignment and plea at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday before Kona Circuit Judge Wendy DeWeese.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
