Bounty hunter
Chapman’s aide
now hunted herself

Ex-employee 'Ili' is sought for
skipping out on $20,000 bail

A former employee of Hawaii-based bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman is on the run from the law herself, with a $100,000 warrant for her arrest issued by a state judge.

Vaisaili Suka: The 43-year-old felon is charged with setting fire to the home she rented

Vaisaili Suka, 43, failed to appear for a review hearing on Feb. 11 before Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario in a criminal property damage case, prompting Del Rosario to issue a bench warrant.

Suka, who is known as "Ili" to Chapman, worked part-time for Chapman's Da Kine Bail Bonds business from 2001 to 2003 and has been featured on the A&E reality TV show based in Hawaii, even posing as a drug buyer to get information on a suspect during one episode.

"I love Ili," Chapman said during a telephone interview Friday. " I still do very much."

He added that he understands why the judge set the bail at the amount he did. "If I was Judge Del Rosario, I would say Ili, of all people, you know better. I would have done higher than that ... I would have set it higher."

He added, "I told her, 'You must go to court.'"

A state grand jury indicted Suka on March 25 for first-degree criminal property damage after she allegedly set the Waimanalo home she was renting on fire. Suka has prior convictions including theft, burglary, resisting arrest and harassment.

Duane Chapman: The prominent bounty hunter says he would have set bail even higher

Although Chapman has posted bail for Suka in other cases, her bail in this case was handled by another bail bonds firm, AAA Local Bail Bonds. AAA General Manager Charles Fisher said his firm forfeited $20,000 when she failed to show up in court on Feb. 11, and he plans to find her, with or without the Dog.

"It's in his benefit to find her, or to at least lead me to her," said Fisher. "It's one of his own puppies who have left the dog pound, and now a real bounty hunter is going to go get her."

Fisher is offering a $1,000 reward for information on Suka's whereabouts.

Chapman's wife and business partner, Beth Smith, said Suka mainly worked with Chapman in the field and had many contacts in the community.

"She hunted a lot of people down ... she was very, very promising," Smith said. "We want to encourage her to turn herself in."

Suka -- variously known as Sia Poulimili Letuligaasenoa, Vaisaili M. Toilolo and Poulima Viavia -- is described as 5 foot 5 inches, 190 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. She frequents the Honolulu area.

Anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers