On Saturday, Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged four men for firearms offenses at a cockfight in Kealakekua where drugs and illegal firearms were recovered, along with U.S. currency and two vehicles for forfeiture.
Officers from the Hawaiʻi County Police Department’s Area II Vice Section, Area II Criminal Intelligence Unit, Kona Patrol, Area II Ice Task Force, and federal agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at a 500-acre property in Kealakekua, where more than 800 people were estimated in attendance at a cockfight.
Police recovered approximately 14 live chickens and chicken boxes, extensive cockfighting paraphernalia, four dead chickens, three unregistered loaded pistols, ammunition, and a loaded .22 caliber long rifle from the premises. Police also seized small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, as well as $8,000 in US currency and two pickup trucks for forfeiture.
Officers arrested and charged:
- Chaddy Aukai, age 23, of Ocean View, for one count each of place to keep a firearm and possession of a “ghost gun”. Aukai’s bail was set at $4,000.
- James Medeiros, age 32, of Kamuela, for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. His bail was set at $2,000.
- Kapono Hookahi, age 31, of Kamuela, for place to keep a firearm and place to keep ammunition. Hookahi’s bail was set at $2,500.
- Eizan-James Medeiros, age 21, of Kamuela, for two counts of place to keep a firearm and one count of possession of a “ghost gun”. His bail was set at $12,000.
All men posted bail and are scheduled for their initial court appearance in Kona District Court on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
The investigation into this operation and its organizers is currently ongoing. Police ask anyone who has information about the event to contact Detective Grad Elarionoff at (808) 326-4646 ext. 312, or by email at Grad.Elarionoff@hawaiicounty.gov.
