A 22-year-old Pahoa man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to second-degree attempted murder and several other charges stemming from an incident in Puna almost 15 months before.
A 22-year-old Pahoa man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to second-degree attempted murder and several other charges stemming from an incident in Puna almost 15 months before.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Gilbert Henry “Hana” Waiau to stand trial at 9 a.m. Dec. 15.
A Hilo grand jury indicted Waiau on July 9, charging him with attempted second-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree assault, attempted first- and second-degree property damage and first-degree terroristic threatening.
A bench warrant set Waiau’s bail at $85,000, and he appeared at the arraignment in custody.
According to a police spokeswoman, the incident happened April 30, 2013, on Kahakai Boulevard at Puni Mauka Loop in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision. The victim was a 23-year-old woman, identified in the indictment as Keonaona Tam. The indictment states Waiau attempted to run Tam over with a car.
The indictment also states Waiau damaged property belonging to Tam and a car belonging to Kalani Porter.
According to the Tribune-Herald’s vital statistics file, Tam and Porter have since married.
The bench warrant bars Waiau from possessing firearms or from contacting, threatening or harming either of the alleged victims.