Crime Statistics

During the holiday hustle and bustle, scammers often target unsuspecting utility customers. Today, on national Utility Scam Awareness Day, Hawaiian Electric warns customers to guard against criminals taking aim at their hard-earned money.

The Maui Police Department has been made aware of a recurring scam involving spoofed phone calls targeting members of the community.

The state Department of Law Enforcement has established a Gun Tip Line for people to report illegal gun ownership and firearm crimes anonymously.

Robert Francis Dumaran, 47, of Kahului, entered a plea agreement, pleading guilty to possessing explosive powders as a convicted felon and possessing an unregistered destructive device. Sentencing for Dumaran is set for Feb. 2, 2025, before United States District Judge Jill A. Otake.

The most recent reported ongoing scam is spoof callers claiming to be a Maui Police Department representative. Spoofing is a technique used to manipulate caller ID information, making it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate source, such as a government agency, financial institution, or even a known contact, making it highly deceptive.

The Department of Law Enforcement warns the public to beware of callers impersonating law enforcement officers and intimidating people with false information about impending or nonexistent court cases.

A Maui man who was on trial for the second degree attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend’s infant, was found guilty instead of a lesser first degree attempted assault charge. The verdict in the trail of Christian Rosete was reached on Monday afternoon (Sept. 23). The jury found Rosete guilty as charged of separate first and second degree assault charges, and a charge of felony abuse against a family or household member. Another second degree assault charge for Count 3 was reduced to a third degree assault conviction.

Maui police will increase presence in and around Baldwin High School today following an alleged threat towards the campus.

A Maui man will appear in federal court on Monday for an initial hearing after being arrested on Wednesday for his alleged connection to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found near Kaʻamana St. in Kula on Aug. 7, 2024. Jess Kiesel Lee, age 43, of Kula, was named in a criminal complaint for allegedly possessing explosives as a felon and damaging property by means of explosives, according to the complaint. Lee’s fingerprint was recovered from tape on one of the IEDs, the complaint alleges.

A Kula man has been arrested in connection with the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) discovered on Aug. 7, 2024, near Kaʻamana Street in Kula. Maui police say Jess Lee, 43, was arrested as a result of a coordinated effort between the MPD and FBI.

Maui police have launched a shooting investigation after the death of a motorist in Waikapū early Monday morning. Police have since identified the victim as Shawn Lewis, 42, of Lahaina. Lewis was reportedly driving along the Honoapiʻilani Highway in Waikapū early Monday morning when he crashed shortly after midnight on Sept. 16, 2024, near Waiolu Place, forcing the closure of the highway for five hours while police conducted an investigation. The cause of death is pending autopsy.

The Maui Police Department is currently conducting an active investigation into a deadly incident overnight that forced the closure of the Honoapiʻilani Highway in Waikapū for five hours.

The Maui Police Department Cold Case Unit requests the public’s assistance in identifying a man who was found deceased in the waters off Kahului Harbor breakwater on Sept. 25, 1996.

A 64-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run collision reported in South Maui on Thursday night. A preliminary police investigation reveals that a pedestrian was on the sidewalk when an unknown vehicle executed a short radius right turn out of the parking lot located at 1881 South Kīhei Road; proceeded to drive over the curb and onto the sidewalk when it collided into and drove over the pedestrian.   The operator of the unknown vehicle did not stop or render aid to the pedestrian and fled the scene northbound on South Kīhei Road, police said.

Krystale Kaneakua of Pukalani was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Tuesday by 2nd Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill for second degree arson in connection with a five acre brush fire along the Maui Veterans Highway two years ago. The sentencing comes following a jury trial and guilty verdict on June 3.

The most recent reported ongoing scam is spoof callers claiming to be a Maui Police Department representative. Spoofing is a technique used to manipulate caller ID information, making it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate source, such as a government agency, financial institution, or even a known contact, making it highly deceptive.

Maui police released a timeline of activity on Tuesday evening surrounding the recent IED investigation on Maui and the arrest on Saturday of a Kahului man.

Robert Francis Dumaran, age 47, of Kahului, Maui, made his initial appearance in United States District Court today. The complaint and affidavit allege that on July 23, 2024, Maui Police Department officers encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) near Lono Ave. in Kahului. The complaint alleges that Dumaran’s fingerprints were recovered from packing tape used to build the IED.

Maui police issued an update today saying their investigation into the improvised explosive device (IED) incident that occurred in Pukalani on Aug. 8, 2024 remains active. Police said that they are unable to share investigative details at this time because they do not want to compromise the investigation; however, authorities anticipate being able to release information in the near future.

The road has since reopened. Maui Now reached out to police on Sunday regarding details surrounding this incident. Information is forthcoming.