Elaban-Paoa Charged With Attempted 2nd Degree Murder

Sydney Elaban-Paoa. Photo courtesy of MPD.

By Rodney S. Yap

Police have charged Sydney Elaban-Paoa with attempted second-degree murder and his bail has been set at $100,000.

The 19-year-old had been sought by police after reportedly stabbing a 21-year-old male early Monday morning in the parking lot of Paradise Gardens’ apartment complex in Kihei.

Patrol officers responded to an assault in progress at 3:24 a.m. and found the victim suffering from multiple lacerations to his face and body. The victim was in critical condition when he was taken by ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he remains in critical but stable condition.

Elaban-Paoa fled the scene after the incident, sparking an island-wide search by police. He later turned himself into the Wailuku police station at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the police report, a knife was recovered at the crime scene.