Hilo man busted after 2.5 pounds of meth allegedly found in car

A 58-year-old Hilo man facing four felony drug charges allegedly told police he has been making a living by selling drugs his entire life.

Police executed a narcotics search warrant on a car belonging to Robert Alan Akito Kinosita at about 10 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Wailoa State Recreation Area in Hilo.

According to court documents filed by police, the search turned up about 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine and more than $6,600 in cash.

Kinoshita, who was serving four years of probation for a drug distribution conviction in December 2021, was arrested and charged with two counts each of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug for possession more than an ounce of meth, plus two counts of attempted promotion of a dangerous drug for attempting to distribute one-eight ounce or more of meth.

All four charges are Class A felonies that carry a potential 20-year prison term. If convicted as charged, Kinoshita faces sentencing to a mandatory prison term and will not be eligible for probation. Additionally, prosecutors have notified the courts that Kinoshita is subject to an extended term of imprisonment.

Kinoshita allegedly told officers he doesn’t sell anything smaller than “a ball” — which is street slang for an eighth of an ounce — and his price for a ball is “a dollar,” street slang for $100.

At Kinoshita’s initial court appearance Friday afternoon, Deputy Public Defender Jauwan Barron requested that Kinoshita’s bail be reduced, which drew an objection from Deputy Prosecutor Elyssa Correia-Keltner.

Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach maintained Kinoshita’s bail at $300,000 and ordered him to appear Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Kinoshita remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.