Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged a Kona couple with multiple offenses following a double stabbing that inured two people outside a Kona bar.

On November 9, Kona patrol officers responded to a reported affray outside the bar where a 41-year-old male victim told police he was working as a security guard for the establishment when he denied entry to a male customer, due to the establishment being at max capacity. The customer was later identified as 40-year-old Joshua Van Why.

The victim further reported that Van Why became angry about being denied entry and the two became involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical. During the altercation, both parties wrestled to the ground and Van Why was observed removing what appeared to be a switchblade from his pocket, stabbing the victim.

After several bystanders assisted in removing the knife from Van Why, he left the area on foot, heading toward Ali‘i Drive. The knife was subsequently recovered by police as evidence.

During the course of investigation, police determined that Van Why’s girlfriend, later identified as 29-year-old Rachel Hogan, was also involved in the incident wielding what appeared to be a knife and making threats toward the victim.

Officers were able to obtain evidence that corroborated the victim’s statement, as well as positively identify Van Why as the suspect.

The next day, officers were informed by Kona Community Hospital staff that a possible second victim, a 55-year-old man, had arrived at the emergency room.  Officers learned that he was trying to intervene when he was confronted by Van Why’s girlfriend, Hogan. A physical altercation started between Hogan and the 55-year-old, resulting in the victim being stabbed and seriously wounded.

Further investigation revealed that both Van Why and Hogan had returned to their residence. Officers proceeded to that location and observed clothing with blood stains on the floor fronting the residence, matching the description of what Van Why and Hogan were last seen wearing. Those items were subsequently recovered as evidence.

On Sunday morning, police arrested Van Why and Hogan as they exited their residence. Continuing the investigation, detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section obtained and executed search warrant on the couple’s residence, recovering a total of 26 knives as evidence.

police determined that Van Why and Hogan were possibly involved in a separate stabbing incident that occurred on March 25, 2024, at a beach park in Kailua-Kona involving a 46-year-old male victim. Later that same day, the victim of the March 2024 beach park stabbing positively identified Hogan as his assailant. Hogan also had an outstanding arrest warrant.

 

 

Upon conferral with the County Prosecutor’s Office Van Why was charged with:
First-degree assault
Second-degree assault
His total bail was set at $15,000.

 

 

 

Hogan was charged with:
First-degree assault
Two counts of second-degree assault
First-degree Terroristic Threatening
Her total bail was set at $25,150.

Anyone with information relative to this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Len Hamakado at (808) 326-4646, ext. 224; or via email at Len.Hamakado@hawaiicounty.gov.

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Police Department