By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police this morning arrested a 43-year-old man in connection with a Waikiki robbery on Tuesday that left an elderly tourist from Canada in critical condition.

Police arrested the man at 12:45 a.m. at 2463 Kuhio Avenue, a little more than a block away from where the robbery look place at the 'Ohana Waikiki West hotel.

The man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery and criminal littering, police said. He had not been charged by mid-morning.

Police said Waikiki plainclothes officers stopped the man after seeing him throwing peanut shells on the street.

The robbery took place Tuesday morning when the 81-year-old man and his wife were checking in at the hotel, police said. The couple had just arrived from Ontario, Canada, when the man decided to use the lobby bathroom just before 1:11 a.m., police said.

The robber followed the tourist into the bathroom, struck him more than three times with a rock and stole his wallet, police said. Police said they recovered the rock at the scene.

The elderly tourist underwent immediate surgery for his head injuries and remained in critical condition at the Queen’s Medical Center this morning.