Fired restaurant worker arrested in Waikoloa killing

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 28-year-old man who was fired Monday from the Hama Yu Japanese Restaurant in Waikoloa on the Big Island was arrested by police yesterday in connection with the stabbing death of the restaurant owner.

Yasushi Kato of Waikoloa was being held this morning at the Kona police station for further questioning, police said.

Responding to a 4:50 p.m. call, South Kohala police determined that Yukichi Ito, 62, the owner of the restaurant at The Kings' Shops in Waikoloa, died after being stabbed several times.

Police arrested Kato at the scene without incident, said acting police Lt. Llewellyn Fukui.

Detectives said Kato had been fired by Ito on Monday and had returned to the restaurant to confront his former boss.

During an ensuing fight, Ito was stabbed several times with a restaurant knife and later died at the scene, Fukui said.

Fukui said that when police arrived, others at the restaurant pointed to Kato as the suspect and police arrested him without a struggle.

Kato was taken to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment of cuts, believed to have occurred during the struggle, before being taken to the Kona police station, Fukui said.

Fukui said detectives are seeking witnesses to the stabbing. The restaurant was not open at the time, and Ito may have been alone prepping for the dinner hour, he said.

Police are checking with the Japanese consulate to determine whether the two are Japanese nationals.

Fukui said police do not know why Kato was fired.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thur ley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.