Police commandeer canoe to get their man
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Ten Kahalu'u canoe paddlers and two police officers in a double-hulled canoe sped after a 23-year-old home-invasion suspect in an ocean chase Thursday night, grabbing him about an eighth of a mile offshore.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Bystanders on shore hummed the theme from "Hawaii Five-O" when police and paddlers returned to shore with the man at about 7 p.m.
The paddlers who helped: (front) Guy Tanodra, (second row from left) Kawehi Kekauoha, Link Llewellyn, Kawika Smith, Keoni Akaka-Reis, Danny Smith, (back) Andy Carvalho and Kamu Lau. Missing are brothers Deston and Isacc Manalo.
Police said the man is a suspect in the home-invasion robbery of a Punalu'u couple that began at about 3 p.m.
Police said the robbery started when a 62-year-old resident of the home on Kamehameha Highway allowed a man to use his phone. The man's accomplice snuck into the house and they forced the homeowner into a chair and bound him.
A short time later, the man's 60-year-old wife arrived. She was also bound.
The robbers stole several items, then each took one of the couple's cars. A short time later, one of the men crashed.
The driver ran and as police cornered him, he jumped into the ocean.
Ten Keahiakahoe Canoe Club paddlers were nearby.
"A police officer drove up and asked if we had a boat," said Keahiakahoe coach Stan Dickson.
Two officers joined the paddlers in a fiberglass double-hull canoe and chased the swimmer toward Kualoa.
They caught up with the tired suspect, who, at first, didn't realize police officers were on the canoe .
He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery and kidnapping.
The second robber remained at large yesterday.
