Big Island kidnap suspect faces trial in older case

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Already facing kidnapping and other charges for a June 14 confrontation in which he was shot by police, Keola Nathen Kanae yesterday was ordered to stand trial on attempted murder charges in a shooting at a housewarming party in Hawaiian Paradise Park.

Big Island Judge Barbara Takase found probable cause for all 13 counts, including terroristic threatening and attempted murder for shooting at Tyrel Andrews on June 9 at the home of Christine Freitas and David S. Benevides.

A motive for the shooting was not revealed in testimony during yesterday's preliminary hearing.

Police said Kanae fired a rifle four times.

Benevides' father, David A. Benevides, said Kanae walked up to him after the first shot and threatened to shoot him. By then, Benevides said, the partygoers were rounding up children playing outside of the home.

"They were scared, frightened. Everyone scrambled to pick up the kids and run into the house," he recalled.

Kanae, 19, is charged with six felonies in connection with the June 14 incident in which he and Shaun "Mika" Thompson, 20, entered a 64-year-old Puna woman's car without permission.

When police approached and ordered the two men out of the car, Thompson fatally shot himself with a rifle while sitting in the back seat, and Kanae was shot in the chest by a police officer while trying to get out of the vehicle.

He has been held without bail since being released from Hilo Medical Center.