Media release | Hawaii County Police Department

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section have taken into custody a 19-year-old man in connection with an assault with a sledge hammer that occurred at a residence in Panaewa on March 25, 2011.

On Friday at about 4:00 pm, South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of an unconscious male at a residence on Auwae Road in Hilo. Responding officers and Fire Department personnel discovered a 55-year-old man with a severe head injury. The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center by medics and was initially listed in serious condition. He was transferred to Queen’s Medial Center on Oahu via air ambulance and has since been upgraded to stable condition following surgery.

Police arrested Tevita Moala at the scene for an unrelated warrant and he was being held in the East Hawaii Detention Center while detectives conducted further investigation into this incident, which has been classified as a first degree assault.

After conferring with Big Island prosecutors, detectives charged Moala for first degree assault and his bail is set at $25,000.00. He is being held in the police cellblock pending his initial court appearance on Monday.