2-28-24 Police Arrest and Charge Hilo Man in Connection with Two Kona Robberies

Hawai‘i Police Department
Area II Criminal Investigation Section
Lieutenant Michael Hardie
Phone: (808) 326-4646, Ext. 266
Report No.: 24-019018

 Media Release           

Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 29-year-old Marty Pangelinan, of Hilo, with various offenses related to two robberies in Kailua-Kona on Monday, February 26, 2024.  

At 11:50 a.m. on Monday, the 44-year-old female manager of a gas station convenience store in the 75-5600 block of Kuakini Highway reported that a man, later identified as Pangelinan, walked into the business wearing a black hoodie, pants, and a black and white bandana covering his nose and mouth, carrying a black backpack and a baseball bat. 

Pangelinan reportedly told the store manager, “this is a robbery,” and was holding the bat upwards with one hand over his shoulder, threatening to strike her. Pangelinan repeatedly demanded money and fled the area on foot walking southbound on Kuakini Highway with more than $230 in U.S. currency. The manager then exited the store and yelled to bystanders that she had been robbed. A nearby 42-year-old male overheard the store manager and pursued Pangelinan.

Shortly thereafter, Pangelinan entered a coffee establishment, also in the 75-5600 block of Kuakini Highway and began swinging the bat in circles, striking a display case and an oven, damaging both. Pangelinan demanded money from the 53-year-old male store manager who had positioned himself between Pangelinan and four employees who were back into a corner near the drive-through window area. The store manager instructed the employees to exit through the drive-through window as Pangelinan threatened to strike the manager with the bat. Pangelinan then swung the bat with full force toward the manager, causing him to step back, with the bat striking the countertop instead.

The manager opened a metal lockbox and gave Pangelinan slightly more than $200, which Pangelinan placed in his backpack. After asking for money in the safe and being told none was in the safe, Pangelinan became irate and swung the bat at display stands containing syrups and powders, damaging them.

Pangelinan headed toward the exit, at which point a male bystander intervened from outside and held the exit/entrance door closed in an attempt to keep Pangelinan inside the store until police arrived. Pangelinan then swung his bat multiple times at the door, shattering it and walking out of the establishment. However, he was soon tackled by several male bystanders, including the individual who had been holding the door shut. Pangelinan was held until police arrived and arrested Pangelinan. 

Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section (CIS) continued the investigation while Pangelinan was held at the Kealakehe Police Station. After executing a search warrant on Pangelinan’s backpack, they recovered two separate bundles of U.S. currency in the exact amount stolen from each business.

After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, February 27, Area II CIS detectives charged Pangelinan with the following offenses and his bail was set at $100,000:

• Two counts of  first-degree robbery
• One count of fourth-degree criminal property damage

Pangelinan remained in police custody pending his initial court appearance on Wednesday February 28, in Kona District Court.

Anyone with information regarding this incident  is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118; or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Citizens who wish to remain anonymous can make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record any calls or subscribe to caller ID.