Pāhoa Man Charged with Felony Firearm Offenses After Nanawale Arrest

Puna patrol officers conducting routine area checks on a utility service road in the Nanawale subdivision encountered Kawika Benny Kahee, 42, of Pāhoa, at 7:34 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, and ended up seizing a serialless "ghost gun" from his white Toyota pickup truck after executing a search warrant.

Officers came upon two vehicles on the powerline road near the intersection of Kehau and Mauna Kea Road. Kahee was standing outside the Toyota pickup when officers placed him under arrest on two outstanding bench warrants. As they took him into custody, a black semi-automatic pistol was visible on the front passenger seat of the truck. Kahee was subsequently arrested on a charge of place to keep pistols or revolvers. The pickup was towed to the Hilo Police Station pending a search warrant.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section executed that warrant and recovered an unloaded semi-automatic 9mm pistol with no serial number, which Hawaiʻi Police Department materials describe as a "ghost gun." Investigators also determined that Kahee is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction involving violence.

The other vehicle on the powerline road was occupied by a woman. Officers determined she had no outstanding warrants and observed no violations.

After consulting with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, police formally charged Kahee on Monday morning, March 9, with firearm offenses and on the two outstanding bench warrants. Bail for the firearm-related charges was set at $120,000, with an additional $15,000 total bail covering the two bench warrants. Kahee was scheduled to make his initial appearance that Monday afternoon in Hilo District Court.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Picadura at (808) 961-2375. The Hawaiʻi Police Department non-emergency line is (808) 935-3311.