Hawaiʻi Police Officer Noah Serrao Pleads No Contest to Perjury, Tampering Charges

Hawaiʻi Police Department Officer Noah Serrao pleaded no contest March 17 in Hilo's 3rd Circuit Court to felony perjury and two misdemeanor charges stemming from an unconstitutional search of an arrestee's belongings inside the Hilo Police Station in May 2023 — and then asked the court to defer acceptance of his pleas.

The charges against Serrao are perjury, false swearing in official matters, and tampering with a government record. Prosecutors say that after conducting the unlawful search, Serrao made false statements about it to a presiding judge in a formal Application for Judicial Determination of Probable Cause for Warrantless Arrest and for the Extended Restraint of Liberty of Warrantless Arrestee. Perjury, a class C felony, carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The two misdemeanor charges each carry up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Serrao is the second Hawai'i Island officer to enter a no-contest plea in connection with the same incident. Officer Blane Kenolio pleaded no contest in February to tampering with physical evidence and is scheduled for sentencing May 28, 2026. Kenolio remains with the Hawaiʻi Police Department. Following Kenolio's February plea, Chief Reed Mahuna said there was no further action he could take, as Kenolio had already been disciplined in June and July of 2023 for the misconduct. As of publication, Mahuna had not responded to inquiries about Serrao's employment status.

The case, State v. Noah Serrao et al., case number 3CPC-26-0000022, is being prosecuted by Special Investigation and Prosecution Division Deputy Attorney General Benjamin Rose. The Attorney General's SIPD and the Hawaiʻi County Police Department jointly investigated. The felony charging complaint was filed in January 2026.

Attorney General Anne Lopez framed the case in terms of constitutional obligation. "The people of Hawaiʻi rely on the integrity of our justice system at every stage. The rule of law depends on honesty, accountability and respect for constitutional rights," Lopez said. "Our office is committed to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of position, are held to these standards. We extend our appreciation to the Hawaiʻi Police Department for its proactive cooperation and close coordination with our office throughout this investigation."

Chief Mahuna issued a statement supporting the prosecution's work. "The Hawaiʻi Police Department holds its officers to the highest standards of integrity and truthfulness," Mahuna said. "When those standards are violated, we fully support a fair and independent process to ensure accountability. We appreciate the thorough work of the Department of the Attorney General and remain committed to maintaining the trust of our community."

Serrao's sentencing is set for June 30, 2026, at 9 a.m.