Virginia Man Accused of Skipping Out on Bills, Arrested in Hāna, Maui

Rakesh Kukatla.

Officers from the Hāna Patrol District responded to the Travaasa Hotel in Hāna, Maui to investigate a trespass complaint at 1:13 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.

Upon arrival, Officers found 43-year old Rakesh Kukatla of Virginia asleep in a lounge chair. Police say Kukatla was in a restricted area reserved for hotel guests.

During the investigation, it was discovered that earlier, Kukatla had been at the Hāna Ranch Restaurant where he had eaten $60 worth of food and drink and attempted to use various credit cards in his name that were declined for unknown reasons.  Subsequently Kukatla was unable to pay his bill.

Officers offered to have Kukatla placed under citizen’s arrest for theft, however the restaurant employees declined and requested documentation of the incident. Kukatla was removed from the property and advised by police and Hāna Ranch employees to stay away from all Hāna Ranch properties, including the Travaasa Hotel.

Later in the day, Kukatla was back at the Travaasa Hotel attempting to obtain spa services with one of his declined credit cards, police said. After services were denied, he remained on property and utilized Travaasa Hotel guest amenities without authorization.

Following the arrest of Kukatla, officers obtained more information that he alleged ordered services from various businesses on Maui and also was unable to pay when his credit cards were declined.

Additionally, it was learned that Kukatla has an apparent history of this same type of credit card scam in New Canaan, Connecticut. In searching the internet for more information, officers found an article related to Kukatla, “Police Seek More Info on Mystery Man” dated Oct. 27, 2014 from The News of New Canaan, Connecticut NCADVERTISER.COM website.

Subsequently Rakesh Kukatla was arrested for first degree criminal trespass and bail was set at $200.

Lieutenant William Hankins of the Hāna Patrol District credited the arrest of Kukatla to police officers working side-by-side with local businesses.