A 26-year-old Hilo man is accused of stealing two brand-new 2017 Subaru WRX sport coupes from dealership lots and used at least one in illegal street races, according to court documents filed by police. ADVERTISING A 26-year-old Hilo man is
A 26-year-old Hilo man is accused of stealing two brand-new 2017 Subaru WRX sport coupes from dealership lots and used at least one in illegal street races, according to court documents filed by police.
Kahee Ioane Manuwai, who had been the subject of a police wanted bulletin, was arrested Saturday in Volcano, police said.
According to documents, suspicious activity was reported at a vacant home on Amaumau Road. An officer spotted one of the Subarus in the garage and saw Manuwai putting items in the trunk. When the officer identified himself, Manuwai reportedly jumped into the car, backed out and sped off.
Police say he lost control of the vehicle, fled on foot and was subsequently apprehended.
Officers recovered a 2017 Subaru WRX stolen Jan. 16 from Kona Mazda-Subaru, which bore a license plate from another vehicle. Documents state the car was worth $29,745, and the keys were in the vehicle.
Manuwai also allegedly admitted to officers he drove off the Hilo Mazda-Subaru lot with another 2017 Subaru WRX on Sept. 23, 2016. According to documents, that car was worth $38,245.
Manuwai allegedly admitted he drove that vehicle in illegal street races and told officers he had the keys to the car before driving it off the lot.
He is charged with two counts of first-degree theft, two counts of driving a stolen vehicle, fraudulent use of a license plate, resisting arrest and reckless driving.
The latter three charges stem from an incident in which an officer spotted a white Subaru WRX with no front plate and a rear plate belonging to another car. The Subaru ran a red light on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo and almost struck another vehicle.
The most severe charge, first-degree theft, is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
According to documents, the officer recognized Manuwai as the driver of the Subaru and turned on his blue lights, but the driver continued southbound at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then made an illegal U-turn by Orchid Isle Ford, struck the officer’s car, and fled southbound.
Manuwai also was booked on suspicion of two other counts of driving a stolen vehicle in connection with the thefts of two Honda CR-Vs from a parking lot on the 600 block of West Lanikaula St. in Hilo on Jan. 1 and Jan. 11.
Those cases are still under investigation and will be forwarded to prosecutors upon completion of the investigation.
Manuwai, who has prior felony convictions for property damage and bail jumping, plus a misdemeanor domestic abuse conviction, made his initial court appearance Tuesday and was ordered by Hilo District Judge Michael Udovic to return for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 2 at 2 p.m.
Manuwai remained in custody Wednesday at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $64,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
