Police charge 11
in night rampage
at campgroundSeven Big Isle adults face
charges relating to assaults
and thefts at an isolated beach
MAKALAWENA, Hawaii >> Kona police have charged 11 people with assault and other crimes related to an attack on up to 50 campers early Saturday morning at isolated Makalawena Beach.
Police received cell phone calls beginning at 1:42 a.m., they said. Campers reported that people in two vehicles were recklessly driving through campsites, damaging campers' vehicles, assaulting campers and blocking escape routes.
Three males were injured, police said. Fire Department paramedics called to the scene treated two of the victims at the site, while a third, a Kailua-Kona man, 18, was taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment of a swelling injury on his head and a bruise on an arm, the Fire Department said.
Arriving police who stopped the two vehicles as they tried to leave the area found the attackers "hostile and confrontational," a police statement said.
Police arrested six men, a woman, three teenage boys and a teenage girl, they said.
Besides the injured campers, the attackers broke into one of the campers' vehicles and stole various items, police said. Police spent the weekend interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects.
Those charged were:
Henry P. Bell, 22, of Kailua-Kona, five counts of assault, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, criminal property damage, resisting arrest, theft and terroristic threatening; held in lieu of $18,000 bail.
Jonathan Taetuna, 18, Honaunau, four counts of assault, criminal property damage and terroristic threatening; held in lieu of $9,000 bail.
Rafael K. Rodrigues, 18, Honaunau, two counts of assault and criminal property damage; held in lieu of $4,000 bail.
Shiloh K. Chenoweth, 20, Hilo, two counts of assault and criminal property damage; held in lieu of $4,000 bail.
Charles M. Kaupiko, 20, Honaunau, outstanding bench warrant; held in lieu of $300 bail.
James K. Hezekia, 18, of Holualoa, theft; held in lieu of $2,000 bail.
Napualani S. Kamoku, 22, Kailua-Kona, hindering prosecution, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest; held in lieu of $3,000 bail.
Two boys, 17, and another, 15, were charged with curfew violation. A girl, 16, was charged with curfew violation, obstruction of government operations and disorderly conduct. All of the juveniles were released to their parents or guardians.
Hawaii County Police Dept.
www.hawaiipolice.com