LIHUE — A repeat felon charged with assault and use of a metal rod during the robbery of a Kapaa liquor store was arraigned on Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court. Kawika Iopa Manaku, 29, appeared on two counts of first-degree
LIHUE — A repeat felon charged with assault and use of a metal rod during the robbery of a Kapaa liquor store was arraigned on Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court.
Kawika Iopa Manaku, 29, appeared on two counts of first-degree robbery, attempted first-degree assault, second-degree assault, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Feb. 3.
Court-appointed defense attorney Mark Zenger said Manaku waived his right to a preliminary hearing in District Court, where a bail study was requested. He entered pleas of not guilty to the charges on behalf of Manaku, who remains in custody at Kauai Community Correctional Center on $500,000 bail.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe scheduled trial for June 22. At the request of the defense, she also scheduled a status of change of plea hearing for March 18.
Police said Manaku walked into the Kapaa Liquor and Wine Company on Feb. 3 and assaulted a 70-year-old male store owner before taking an undisclosed amount of cash from the register.
Manaku’s prior criminal history includes a felony probation term and one year of jail in April 2013. He was convicted of using his employee master key to steal cash from resort hotel rooms with an accomplice.
Corrects defendant was in possession of a firearm to a dangerous instrument, to wit, a metal rod. The term firearm was stated in the arrest log but was not part of the felony complaint.
