The Maui News

WAILUKU — Charges have been dismissed for a Wailuku man who was arrested with others in the robbery of a couple who reported being threatened at gunpoint when they went to recover a stolen car at Kaa Point in Kahului.

Chivalry Asuncion-Kalilikane, 35, had robbery, terroristic threatening and other felony charges dismissed at his preliminary hearing Aug. 8 in Wailuku District Court.

He was among five people arrested in the robbery reported July 22 when a woman and her boyfriend went to recover her son’s stolen car on a dirt road near the beach on Amala Place. The couple confronted a man who was in the stolen 1996 Honda Civic and reported seeing him making a phone call before others pulled up in two vehicles, according to witnesses.

Two men in the group had guns that they pointed toward the woman’s boyfriend, witnesses said. The suspects fled, leaving the stolen vehicle behind, and were later located by police.

Defense attorney Ben Acob said Asuncion-Kalilikane decided to testify at the preliminary hearing and told the court he didn’t know that someone in the group had a gun. Asuncion-Kalilikane said he stepped back from others in the group when he got to the beach and recognized the woman’s boyfriend, Acob said.

Both Asuncion-Kalilikane and the woman’s boyfriend grew up on Molokai, according to court documents.

Keanuokekai Kamai Uwekoolani, 21, of Waiehu was identified as one of the men who brandished a gun. He was charged with first-degree robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, two counts of keeping a pistol or revolver in an improper place, two counts of carrying a loaded firearm on a public highway, prohibited possession of a firearm or ammunition, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and attempted second-degree theft. His bail was set at $163,000.

The other man with a gun was identified as Krayston Ako Kealoha, 29, of Kihei, according to court documents. He was being held in lieu of $22,000 bail on charges of first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and attempted second-degree theft.

Pamela Newton, 36, of Paia also was charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and attempted second-degree theft, with her bail set at $22,000.

Kila-Kika Kaia, 25, of Wailuku was identified as the man who was seen in the stolen car. His bail was set at $97,000 on charges of first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, attempted second-degree theft, second-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree theft, attempted third-degree theft, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, credit card theft and third-degree assault.

Cases are pending in 2nd Circuit Court for the four remaining defendants.