Honoka‘a man accused of multiple offenses in shooting incident

A 45-year-old Honoka‘a man has been arrested and charged with numerous firearm and drug offenses following a shooting incident in a residential area off of Honoka‘a-Waipio Road late Saturday evening.

At 10:19 p.m. Saturday, Hamakua patrol officers responded to a report of multiple gunshots in the area of the 47-4000 block of Honoka‘a-Waipio Road.

Responding officers located Ronald Makio next to a white Ford F-150 pickup truck, with hunting dogs running around the area.

Upon informing Makio of the report of gunshots being heard in the area, Makio told the officers that he just shot a pig. Officers were able to locate and recover a black semiautomatic rifle near the pickup truck and a deceased pig in the nearby brush.

Makio was arrested for numerous firearms offenses and was transported to the Honoka‘a Police Station for booking and processing.

The pickup truck also was recovered and towed to the police station pending the execution of a search warrant. Makio was then transported to the police cellblock, where he was held for continued investigation.

Detectives on Monday executed a search warrant on the pickup truck, resulting in the recovery of two live rounds of ammunition, more than 9 grams of methamphetamine, and a methamphetamine-smoking pipe, according to police.

Makio was charged with first-degree reckless endangering, carrying/using a firearm in commission of a separate felony, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, night hunting on private lands, and several other firearm offenses.

His total bail was set at $162,000. Makio’s initial court appearance was on Tuesday afternoon in South Hilo District Court.

Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375, or via email at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.