Hawai‘i island police are asking for public assistance in identifying the suspect in a South Kohala restaurant robbery. At approximately 10:55 p.m., on Friday, December 22, 2023, South Kohala patrol officers responded to a restaurant in the 69-0000 block of Ku‘uali‘i Place in Waikoloa, after a 44-year-old male employee reported that while sitting in his office he heard a male voice demand money from the safe. The employee reported being struck in the face with an open hand slap three times during the course of the robbery, with the suspect exiting the establishment with cash from the safe. Shortly thereafter, a witness reported seeing a pickup truck (unknown make/model) leaving the area traveling north. The suspect is described as a local male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, wearing a gray hoodie, black pants, black shoes, and a disposable light blue face mask.Police ask anyone who may know the suspect’s identity to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Cacique Melendez of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646, ext. 262 or via email at Cacique.Melendez@hawaiicounty.gov.