Keaau woman charged with abusing her two children

Keaau woman charged with abusing her two children

A 41-year-old Keaau woman has been arrested and charged after an incident Monday morning in Papaikou.

At 10:36 a.m., Hilo patrol officers responded to a welfare check call from a witness who reported observing a woman — later identified as Holly Kaleki White — striking two young boys and placing one of the boys in a headlock while near Mill Road in Papaikou.

The witness intervened by placing himself between White and the two children until police arrived.

The boys, ages 11 and 9, were placed in protective custody for their safety, and White, who was determined to be their mother, was arrested for abuse of a family household member.

White allegedly struck both boys in the head with open-handed slaps and struck their heads with a slipper.

The older brother was placed in a headlock around his facial area, causing visible injury.

The boys did not require medical attention. Child Welfare Services later placed them back with their legal guardian.

White was charged Tuesday with four counts of abuse of a family household member, and her bail was set at $65,000.

White’s initial court appearance was Wednesday in Hilo District Court, where her bail was maintained. She remains incarcerated at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center in Hilo, pending a preliminary hearing.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Kelsey Kobayashi of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section, at (808) 961-8883, or via email at kelsey.kobayashi@hawaiicounty.gov.