HILO — A landlord-tenant dispute may have been the motive for a Thanksgiving night homicide in Hilo.
Online court records indicate Kathie Kaohimaunu, mother of 34-year-old murder suspect Kalani Lono Kaohimaunu, was attempting to evict Venus Mitchell, the girlfriend of 39-year-old victim Keola Penovaroff and Mitchell’s mother, Bonnie Mitchell Fox, from the property where the slaying occurred at 143 West Kawailani St.
The dispute was ongoing, with Kathie Kaohimaunu attempting to take summary possession of the unit and collect $3,266.93 plus $150 in court costs, and Mitchell Fox petitioning for a temporary restraining order to prevent Kathie Kaohimaunu from cutting off utilities to the rental unit.
A hearing was held Wednesday, the day before the fatal shooting, before Hilo District Judge Michael Udovic, who took the case under consideration and was to issue a written decision this week, records state.
According to court documents filed by police, Venus Mitchell told police Kalani Kaohimaunu came to the home Thursday night carrying a firearm and confronted Penovaroff. Mitchell reportedly told police she saw two flashes of lights and heard two gunshots, then saw her boyfriend run toward the back of the house and Kaohimaunu drive away in a sedan.
A spent shotgun shell was found by police near where Kaohimaunu was standing, documents state.
Police and ambulance personnel responding to a 10:20 p.m. call found Penovaroff unresponsive outside the home. The ambulance took him to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:57 p.m.
According to police, an autopsy conducted Monday determined Penovaroff died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Kalani Kaohimaunu was arrested at 11:30 a.m. Saturday on Ala Lokelani Street in Kalapana. He was charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm.
Charity Kumia, a 52-year-old Keaau woman who was with Kaohimaunu and was arrested on suspicion of unrelated charges, was released Monday from police custody pending further investigation.
Kalani Kaohimaunu made his initial court appearance Monday and was ordered by Udovic to appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Friends and family of the victim were in the courtroom gallery but declined to be interviewed afterward.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.