Police seek armed suspect after three Puna homicides in Pāhoa

Police were focusing their manhunt in Pāhoa on Wednesday after three elderly men were found dead in Puna, and Hawaii Island officers warned residents to treat Jacob Daniel Baker as armed and extremely dangerous.

The Hawaii Police Department said the first two suspicious deaths were reported on Papaya Farms Road in Pāhoa, one on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 8:47 p.m. and another on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 12:39 p.m. A third suspicious death was reported Tuesday night, May 26, 2026, at 9:58 p.m. in the 12-7800 block of Kalapana Kapoho Beach Road in Pāhoa. Police said the deceased men were elderly and that positive identifications were still pending. Autopsies were ordered to determine the exact causes of death.

Detectives said Baker, 36, of Pāhoa, was wanted in connection with the homicides. He was described as Asian, 5-feet-9 inches tall, about 190 pounds, with short black hair and a tattoo under his left eye. Officers told the public not to approach him and to call 911 immediately if he is seen. People can also call the non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. Crime Stoppers tips can be made at (808) 961-8300, and one report said a reward of up to $1,000 was being offered.

Big Island police said the entire department was searching for Baker, and investigators said he should be considered a top priority. The manhunt has centered on Pāhoa and the surrounding Puna district, where both Papaya Farms Road and Kalapana Kapoho Beach Road became active investigation sites within a little more than 24 hours.

Court filings also showed a temporary restraining order was sought against Baker on May 22, 2026, alleging threats to kill people and saying people on a farm did not feel safe. The request was denied on May 26, 2026, for lack of probable cause.

The killings and the search for Baker added to the strain on Puna, a district that has seen repeated violent-crime investigations in recent years. For families in Pāhoa, Mountain View and the wider east side, the immediate reality was clear: avoid contact, stay alert around the affected roads, and report any sighting of Baker to police without trying to intervene.