As jury selection was underway for his trial, an Ocean View man indicted on eight counts related to an attempted murder and subsequent manhunt changed his plea to no contest Thursday in Kona Circuit Court.
Ronald Kahihikolo, 48, of Ocean View, was indicted in March 2023 on second-degree attempted murder and domestic abuse for allegedly shooting his 42-year-old girlfriend in the head during a dispute in their home.
In addition, the indictment charged Kahihikolo with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, two counts of resisting an order to stop, theft, first-degree theft, two counts of ownership of a weapon prohibited by a felon, two counts of firearms penalty and carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Kahihikolo pleaded no contest to four of the eight charges against him including first-degree assault, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and resisting an order to stop and carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony, the most serious of the charges, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.
A manhunt for Kahihikolo followed a police involved shooting which left one suspect dead at a Palani Road traffic stop.
According to police, the search for Kahihikolo began when Ka‘u patrol officers responded to a report of a 42-year-old woman who had been shot during a domestic dispute in the 92-2000 block of Outrigger Drive in Ocean View. The woman sought medical attention for the gunshot wound at the Ocean View Fire Station and was taken to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment. Detectives with the Area II Juvenile Aid Section identified the suspect in that case as Kahihikolo, of Ocean View, and a media release was issued on that day requesting the public’s assistance in locating him.
Plainclothes Area II Vice detectives received information that Kahihikolo was in the Kona area, and in the company of several individuals who were in possession of two stolen vehicles, a silver Chevy Malibu and a white Dodge sedan.
As vice detectives began canvassing the area, officers observed the Chevy Malibu traveling southbound on Kamakaeha Avenue. As the Malibu came to a stop at the intersection of Kamakaeha Avenue and Palani Road, detectives attempted to contact the vehicle’s occupants. Ignoring the officers’ commands to show them his hands, the male driver began reaching for an object. Fearing for their safety, two detectives discharged their duty weapons, striking the driver, 32-year-old Kainoa Kahele-Bishop of Kailua-Kona. Kahele-Bishop then drove the vehicle across all lanes of Palani Road and down an embankment before coming to a stop. Detectives followed the vehicle down the embankment.
When detectives arrived at the vehicle they observed that Kahele-Bishop had injuries and immediately started life-saving measures, unfortunately he died at the scene. Investigators later recovered multiple firearms from within the vehicle.
As these events were unfolding, the white Dodge sedan believed to be driven by Kahihikolo was seen traveling northbound towards Waimea. Officers pursued him and, according to court documents, he drove in excess of 115 mph during some portions of the pursuit. Police apprehended Kahihikolo, who was wanted for the shooting and numerous outstanding bench warrants, on March 11, 2023, in the Hamakua district near Highway 19 at the 39.5 mile marker.
In 2021, Kahihikolo pleaded guilty to a felony charge of second-degree forgery. With that plea, 13 related charges were dropped and he was granted supervised release. Later that month he did not show up for court and there was a revocation for his supervised release and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In other separate cases, Kahihikolo was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, abuse of household member, third-degree assault and second-degree unlawful imprisonment for January 2023 offenses, three counts related to firearm violations that took place in August 2022, and second-degree reckless endangering, second-degree criminal trespassing and third-degree criminal property damage dating back to February 2022. All charges were dropped except for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and ownership or possession prohibited to which he pleaded no contest.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 3 before Judge Wendy DeWeese.
In accordance to the plea agreement, the prosecutor’s office will seek concurrent sentencing of an indeterminant period up to 20 years, however the final sentence will be at DeWeese’s discretion.