Two Oahu women were arrested Monday afternoon in Kailua-Kona and charged with prostitution.
Schae Ann K. Enoka, 22, and Chantel-Marie Moanikeala De Jetley, 18, both of Waianae, Oahu, were taken into custody at about 4 p.m. at a vacation condominium building on Alii Drive. They were released on their own recognizance about 45 minutes later.
Both women are scheduled to appear in Kona District Court on Sept. 24.
Police Lt. Sherry Bird, who commands the Kona Vice Section, said the women were at the beachfront condominium and arresting officers found them by replying to an Internet posting.
Asked how often police see prostitution in Kona, Byrd replied, “It’s sporadic; it happens.”
“I can’t say once a month or anything like that,” she added. “We try to stay vigilant and try to address any suspected ads that might be advertising prostitution.”
Kona is one of the state’s premier visitor destinations, and Byrd said she thinks it’s “important” to keep prostitution out of the community, “not only for the safety of the community and the people who are around this kind of activity when it’s happening, but for the females and the males that are advertising these kinds of services, as well.”
According to court records, Enoka has a prior prostitution arrest on Oahu a little more than two years ago. She pleaded no contest to the petty misdemeanor charge on Feb. 13, 2014, and was sentenced to two days in jail and fined $300.
Enoka was granted a six-month deferred acceptance of her no contest plea, and her conviction was erased from the record on July 30, 2014.
A search of court records found no prior convictions for De Jetley.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.