Pearl City shooting tied to marijuana buy

Micah Kanahele, left; Rosalino Ramos, center front; and Kevin Harris, back, were in court yesterday with their attorneys. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 24-year-old man wounded in the shooting at the Pearl City Shopping Center parking lot Nov. 1 testified yesterday that he was shot and his friend killed following an argument over the price of a quarter pound of marijuana.

Winston Domingo of 'Aiea, told a district judge that 22 year-old Micah Kanahele shot him and Guyan Nuuhiwa, 26, in the parking lot after Nuuhiwa refused to lower the price of the marijuana from $1,600 to $1,480.

"Nobody had to die over marijuana," Domingo said.

Kanahele is charged with second-degree murder, attempted first-and second degree murder, first-degree robbery, eight firearm and two drug offenses. Kanahele appeared in court with Kevin Harris, 26, and Rosalino Ramos, 22, each charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the shooting.

Winston Domingo says he was shot three times and his friend, Guyan Nuuhiwa, killed over the price of a quarter-pound of marijuana. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kanahele is also charged with murdering Greg Morishima, 49, who was shot while visiting an 'Aiea residence six days before the Pearl City shooting.

The fatal shootings within a week and 2 1/2 miles of each other have left neighbors concerned. Domingo's testimony yesterday provided an account that highlights the dangers of drug transactions.

Domingo took the witness stand yesterday and identified Kanahele as the gunman in the Pearl City shooting.

He testified Kanahele had previously contacted him about purchasing the quarter pound of marijuana from Nuuhiwa, also known by the first name Guylan, for $1,600.

On Nov. 1, Domingo spoke with Kanahele several times about the buy, and arranged to meet him in the Longs parking lot later that night.

Domingo said he did not know Kanahele was bringing Harris or Ramos to the meeting.

Domingo said Kanahele hopped into the back seat of Domingo's Honda Accord to discuss the transaction.

Kanahele asked Nuuhiwa to lower the price, to which Nuuhiwa refused, citing a need to give the $1,600 to the guy he got the marijuana from, Domingo said.

At this point, Domingo said, Kanahele brandished a black, palm-sized pistol and demanded the marijuana.

"Micah said, 'Gimme the stuff or I'm going to shoot you guys,' " Domingo testified.

Domingo said Harris emerged from a blue Toyota Solara and approached the passenger side of the Accord, where Nuuhiwa sat with the marijuana in a nylon cooler on his lap.

Domingo testified he looked up to see Ramos pull his red pickup truck in front of Domingo's car, blocking any escape.

Domingo said he kept telling Kanahele, "You don't have to do this," as Kanahele became more and more agitated.

Harris began arguing with Nuuhiwa, at the same time Kanahele got out of the car and approached Domingo on the driver's side of the car, Domingo said.

"I told Guylan to just give it to him because I felt Micah wouldn't back down," Domingo said.

Domingo said Harris then punched Nuuhiwa in the face and tried to grab the nylon cooler containing the marijuana. Nuuhiwa held on, and threw open the passenger's side door in an attempt to escape.

Kanahele then ran around to the back of the car and began shooting Nuuhiwa, Domingo testified.

Domingo said he turned to get out of the car and and was shot in the upper back as he tried to flee.

As he ran toward a nearby Chevron station, Domingo said he heard Harris yelling, "Micah, he's getting away, shoot him again, shoot him again!."

Domingo was shot three times, in the back, buttocks and forearm. He was hospitalized for three days following the shooting. Nuuhiwa was shot four times, twice in the abdomen, and twice in the face.

Domingo said he went numb after the first bullet. He said he asked the Chevron attendant to call 911 before he returned to his car, where he waited for police.

He said Nuuhiwa was not breathing when he returned to the car. He said the cooler containing the quarter pound of marijuana was gone.

Before the start of yesterday's hearing, Judge Hayashi said Kanahele and Ramos must return to court on Thursday on murder charges in connection with Morishima's death. Bail was set at $500,000 for Kanahele and Ramos.

Harris was also arrested on suspicion of robbery and weapons offenses in connection with Morishima's murder.

In addition, Jason Rumbawa, 23, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and weapons offenses in the case.

Police have said the two shootings are connected but declined to disclose details about the connection because they are still searching for at least two more suspects.

Morishima, a parking supervisor at Aloha Stadium, was shot and killed by three masked men as he sat in the garage of a friend's house on Pamoho Place in 'Aiea.

Before Morishima's murder, police had conducted several narcotic raids at the residence.

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.