33 year-old Kekoa Nihipali of Hilo was charged with attempted robbery, terroristic threatening, and habitual property crime offenses in relation to a shoplifting incident that occurred at a Hilo Walmart on July 28, 2022.

As the Complaint alleges, Nihipali was charged with 6 offenses including Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (in the course of committing theft with a dangerous instrument, an XActo knife, used force against another person, with intent to overcome another person’s physical resistance and/or physical power of resistance and/or threatened imminent use of force against another person with intent to compel acquiescence to the taking of or escaping with the property) Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree (with the use of a dangerous instrument, an X-Acto knife), Habitual Property Crime, Theft in the Fourth Degree/Shoplifting, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (possess any amount of hydrocodone), and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

The most serious offense, Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, is a class A felony offense which carries a penalty of 20 years in prison.

The investigation was handled by Officers Sy Keltner and Collin Roberts, South Hilo Patrol, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Heipua Ahloy.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office