A 52-year-old man found badly injured in Kailua-Kona on Tuesday morning has died of his injuries.
A 52-year-old man found badly injured in Kailua-Kona on Tuesday morning has died of his injuries.
Walter Kamana of Kailua-Kona, formerly of Hilo, was pronounced dead at The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu at 9:16 a.m. Wednesday. The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s office is scheduled to conduct an autopsy today to determine the exact cause of death.
The case was initially classified as an assault. Detectives from Kona Criminal Investigations Section are awaiting results of the autopsy before reclassifying it. They continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
At 5:55 a.m. Tuesday, patrol officers conducting routine checks near the Kailua pier observed an unconscious local male, later identified as Kamana, lying face down on the makai sidewalk of Alii Drive by the sea wall.
He was taken to Kona Community Hospital with a head injury and later moved to The Queen’s in critical condition.
Police are looking for witnesses, including canoe paddlers observed in the area, who may have seen the incident. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 to or contact Detective Shawn Tingle at 326-4646, extension 277, or stingle@co.hawaii.hi.us. Those who prefer to anonymity may call Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.