A woman and two men were arrested Saturday afternoon during what police say was a cockfight raid on the Kaloli Drive end of the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision in Puna.
Taken into custody were 49-year-old Lehualani Kuuipo Kaleiwahea of Hilo, on suspicion of second-degree promotion of gambling and 29 counts of second-degree cruelty to animals; Kaleiwahea’s son, 29-year-old Isaac Dylan Hokulani Ragasa-Kaleiwahea of Keaau, on suspicion of second-degree promotion of gambling; and 37-year-old Domonick Uchima of Kurtistown, on suspicion of second-degree promotion of gambling.
The trio was booked between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at the Hilo Police Station.
All were later released pending further investigation without being charged, police said.
Second-degree promotion of gambling is a Class C felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison upon conviction.
Second-degree cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor, except in cases where 10 or more animals are involved in the same incident, which would appear to be the case here. In that event, second-degree cruelty to animals becomes a Class C felony.
Police Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins, commander of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division, credited the raid to what he called “good, old-fashioned police work.”
It was a plainclothes operation with personnel from all three CID divisions — Criminal Investigations Section, Vice Section and Juvenile Aid Section — involved, Amon-Wilkins said.
Amon-Wilkins said there were “probably over 50” people in attendance at the event. He said police interviewed some of the attendees.
According to Amon-Wilkins, each cruelty charge is for a dead or injured animal. Asked if any live animals were recovered by police, he replied, “I don’t think there were any live animals.”
An undisclosed amount of money and cockfighting equipment also were seized, Amon-Wilkins said.
Asked if any other arrests are being contemplated, Amon-Wilkins replied, “Not at this point. It’s still an ongoing investigation.”
