RUSTY KAWAHA, Charged in stolen car chase

WAILUKU — Felony charges were upheld against a Kahului man who was seen driving a stolen car that overtook other vehicles in a no-passing zone as it fled from police toward Kahakuloa.

Rusty Kawaha, 31, was identified as one of three people in the gold Honda four-door sedan when a loaded shotgun was thrown out a window on the driver’s side July 29, police said.

That day, police Crime Reduction Unit officers tried to stop the car for excessive window tint at Waiehu Beach Road and Kahekili Highway before the vehicle fled toward Kahakuloa, then continued around the north side of the island, police said.

At Mile Marker 38 on Honoapiilani Highway, the car slowed to about 20 mph and officers saw the shotgun thrown out.

Police found the shotgun, which was loaded, in the middle of the road between Mile Markers 38 and 37, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing for Kawaha on Wednesday in Wailuku District Court.

The car, which had been reported stolen July 15 from a Kihei parking lot, had a different license plate when it was located at D.T. Fleming Beach Park in Kapalua.

Kawaha and co-defendants Michelle Cabradilla, 25, and Laisha Jardine, 29, both of Kahului, were found at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.

Judge Kirstin Hamman found probable cause to support charges against Kawaha of carrying a loaded firearm on a public highway, keeping a loaded firearm in an improper place, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, second-degree theft, first-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.

Kawaha also is charged with keeping ammunition in an improper place, prohibited alteration of identification marks for firearms or ammunition, second-degree reckless endangering, removal of vehicle identification marks, fourth-degree theft, reckless driving and driving without a license.

According to court records, Kawaha is on probation for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, theft of a credit card and third-degree theft in two 2017 cases.

Kawaha could face mandatory minimum prison terms if he is convicted of some of his latest felony charges, according to the complaint filed against him.

He was being held in lieu of $62,000 bail at the Maui Community Correctional Center. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in 2nd Circuit Court.

Jardine and Cabradilla each were being held in lieu of $30,000 bail after being charged with carrying a loaded firearm on a public highway, keeping a loaded firearm in an improper place, second-degree theft, keeping ammunition in an improper place, prohibited alteration of identification marks for firearms or ammunition, second-degree reckless endangering, removal of vehicle identification marks and fourth-degree theft.

Trials were set for Oct. 7 in 2nd Circuit Court for Jardine and Cabradilla, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.