KAILUA-KONA — Big Island police have arrested four suspects in connection with an early morning assault in Kona that has left a 63-year-old victim in critical condition.
Officers responded a little after 12:30 a.m. Monday to a report of an assault at a hotel on Palani Road in Kailua-Kona, according to a press release from the Hawaii Police Department. It was subsequently confirmed that the scene of the crime was the Kona Seaside Hotel.
Upon arrival, officers saw a 63-year-old man lying on the ground in the parking lot. Through their preliminary investigation, police discerned the incident occurred after the victim confronted the suspects about the loud music they were playing. The suspects were reportedly sitting in a sports utility vehicle in the hotel parking lot at the onset of the confrontation.
Officers determined a physical altercation subsequently transpired between three of the suspects and the victim. Emergency services transported the victim to Kona Community Hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Monday afternoon, according to the release.
A staff member at the Kona Seaside Hotel said she was not allowed to provide information as to whether the victim was a guest staying at the hotel.
Police arrested all four occupants of the vehicle and took them to the Kona Police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued to investigate.
HPD has identified the suspects arrested for assault as 30-year-old Wesley Samoa of Kona, 30-year-old Lama Lauvao of Honolulu and 41-year-old Natisha Tautalatasi, also of Honolulu. Police arrested 33-year-old Mahealani Kanehailua of Kona on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, the release stated.
Major Robert Wagner, an HPD spokesperson, said none of the four suspects had been charged as of Monday evening around 5 p.m. Because of that, none of the suspects are likely to appear in court today.
Wagner added police have 48 hours to charge any suspects before releasing them. If charges do come down against any or all of the suspects, initial court experiences would likely be Wednesday, he said.
Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the incident call Detective David Matsushima at (808) 326-4646 ext. 224 or make contact via email at david.matsushima@hawaiicounty.gov. Any witnesses may also call the Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
Criminal histories
All four suspects have had run-ins with law enforcement in the past.
Samoa’s court records date back to 2006, with all incidents occurring on Hawaii Island.
His most recent conviction was for third-degree assault in July 2017. The case was dismissed in June of this year after Samoa met all conditions of a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea to the charge. Per the plea agreement, the court dismissed a count of abuse of a household member 14-years-old or younger in exchange for a guilty plea to assault.
The court sentenced Samoa to one year probation, mandated he enroll in a domestic violence intervention program ordered Samoa not to harm, threaten, harass or abuse Mahealani Kanehailua. He was also ordered to pay fines and fees.
Samoa has been convicted of various other offenses, including criminal contempt of court, drunken driving as well as moving and non-moving traffic infractions.
In 2013, he was charged with excessive noise in a public area and a default judgment was entered. In 2009, he was an affiliated party with Mahealani L. Kanehailua — child passenger restraints, failure to have booster seats and failure to have insurance. And in 2007, Samoa was an affiliated party with Mahealani L. Kanehailua for unsafe condition of a vehicle.
The court records of Mahealani Kanehailua also date to 2006, with all incidents occurring on Hawaii Island.
She has been convicted of various offenses, including contempt of court as well as moving and non-moving traffic infractions.
In 2009, Kanehailua pleaded guilty to second-degree theft and was sentenced to 1 year probation, 90 days jail, community service and was ordered to pay fines and fees. In 2007, she pleaded guilty to first-degree theft. She was sentenced to five years probation, along with 30 days incarceration and was ordered to pay fines and fees.
Lama Lauvao’s court record extends to 2006, with all offenses taking place on Oahu.
He has been convicted of various offenses including drunken driving as well as moving and non-moving traffic infractions.
In 2009, Lauvao was charged with accomplice to robbery in an Oahu case. He pleaded guilty in 2014 and was sentenced to probation, along with 30 days incarceration and ordered to pay fines and fees.
Natisha Tautalatasi has a criminal record stretching back to 1997, with all offenses taking place on Oahu.
She has been convicted of various offenses including drunken driving as well as moving and non-moving traffic infractions.
In 2007, she pleaded guilty to second-degree promoting a dangerous drugs in an Oahu case. She was sentenced to five years probation, six months jail and ordered to pay fines and fees.