Former fugitive, alleged associate, make initial court appearances

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KAHIHIKOLO
KEANAAINA
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An attempted murder suspect captured by police over the weekend and a woman associate who was a passenger in a car driven by a man shot to death by police detectives in Kailua-Kona made their initial court appearances Monday on opposite sides of the island.

Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained Ronald Kahihikolo’s bail at $196,000 and ordered him to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Kona District Court.

Meanwhile, Kona District Judge Kimberly Taniyama maintained bail for Jacqueline Keanaaina at $323,000 and ordered her to appear for a preliminary hearing today in Kona.

Kahihikolo, 44, of Ocean View, is charged with second-degree attempted murder and domestic abuse for allegedly shooting his 42-year-old girlfriend in the head during a dispute March 6 in their home.

In addition, Kahihikolo is charged with carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, being a felon in possession of a firearm, unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, first-degree theft, resisting an order to stop, contempt of court, and two counts each of violating terms of release and failure to maintain bail or bond.

Keanaaina, 26, of Kailua-Kona, was the passenger in a Chevy Malibu driven by 32-year-old Kainoa Kahele-Bishop.

Kahele-Bishop died after two police detectives discharged their firearms Friday morning during a traffic stop at the intersection of Kamakaeha Avenue and Palani Road in Kailua-Kona.

Police say Kahele-Bishop, who was wanted for violating parole, refused to comply with orders to show his hands and instead reached for something in the car.

A search of the Malibu produced two firearms — a loaded sawed-off shotgun and an unloaded bolt-action rifle, more than 25 rounds of ammunition, one spent round of ammunition, and eight credit cards which didn’t belong to either Kahele-Bishop or Keanaaina, police said.

Keanaaina was charged with two counts each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and illegally carrying a firearm, carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, carrying a loaded highway on a public roadway, being a felon in possession of ammunition, unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, resisting an order to stop, eight counts of unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, revocation of probation, and failure to maintain bail or bond.

As the police-involved shooting occurred, Kahihikolo allegedly sped off toward Waimea in a white Dodge Charger. Officers pursued him and, according to court documents, he drove in excess of 115 mph during some portions of the pursuit.

The Charger was found Friday on a side road in lower Kalopa off Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19) in Hamakua.

A manhunt ensued in the area of the 39-mile marker of Hawaii Belt Road. It resulted in Kahihikolo being taken into custody shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.