KOKE‘E — The search for a Lawa‘i man, who is a suspect in his father’s homicide, was briefly put on pause Tuesday as heavy rains hampered police efforts.
Kody Kalei Gardner, 22, is wanted in connection with a deadly domestic altercation that occurred near the end of Kuilei Street in Lawa‘i on Feb. 16.
The victim was identified by the Kaua‘i Police Department as 52-year-old Delwood Kalei Gardner of Kahili Mountain, the soccer coach at Waimea High School, and Kody’s father.
Kody Gardner is suspected to have fled to the mountains of Koke‘e, where the truck he was driving was found Thursday afternoon near the Pu‘u Hinahina Lookout. KPD initiated a multi-agency search effort on Feb. 16 that lasted through the weekend. To date, Gardner has not been located, and no sightings have been reported.
Amid heavy rain, the police began a scaled-back search effort Tuesday that was ultimately called off.
KPD Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce said several members of his team began combing a section of Koke‘e on Tuesday, but had to cancel the effort as weather conditions worsened. The storm also prompted flood warnings and shut down Kuhio Highway near the Hanalei River for much of the day.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which assisted in the search in part by blocking off the road leading to the lookout, reported the road was open Tuesday because the search was paused.
A larger, multi-agency effort is planned to resume Wednesday, weather permitting, a county spokesperson said.
Kody Kalei Gardner is of Asian ancestry, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 120 pounds with black hair, black eyes and a slim build.
Anyone with information on Gardner and his whereabouts is asked to call 911.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
