Teen Arrested During Traffic Stop at Demonstration

Maui police arrested a 19-year-old Wailuku man after making a traffic stop in Lahaina on Monday night. The incident was reported at around 6 p.m. during a sign waving demonstration along the Honoapiʻilani Highway near the Kāʻanapali Parkway intersection in West Maui.

Police stopped the man after observing his vehicle come to a complete stop in the area fronting protesters, “apparently attempting to force vehicles following it to stop,” police said. Police say the teen “appeared to be supporting or participating in the protest by driving slowly past them,” with a flag affixed to the vehicle’s rear window.

After gaining consent to search the man’s vehicle, police say they recovered a bolt-action rifle that was unloaded, six rounds of loose rifle ammunition, 20 rounds of secured rifle ammunition, a pair of brass knuckles, a butterfly knife and 40.7 grams of marijuana.

Nohea Hoopii was arrested for the offenses of: place to keep a firearm (unloaded); place to keep ammunition, butterfly knife, deadly weapons prohibited and second degree promoting a detrimental drug.  He was released pending further investigation.