Police Charge Man with Downtown Hilo Property Crimes

Hawaiʻi Island police have charged a Hilo man following multiple incidents of property damage involving business wHawaiʻi Island police have charged a Hilo man following multiple incidents of property damage involving business windows in Downtown Hilo during the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.

On Monday morning, Dec. 29, after conferring with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, 45-year-old Wayland Leong Sr., of Hilo, was charged with the following offenses:

• Three counts of second-degree criminal property damage
• Two counts of fourth-degree criminal property damage

Leong’s bail was set at $15,200. He is set to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 30, in Hilo District Court.

The charges stem from an incident reported at approximately 12:38 a.m. on Dec. 28, when South Hilo patrol officers received multiple anonymous calls regarding a male throwing rocks at business windows in the areas of Punahoa Street, Furneaux Lane and Kamehameha Avenue. Callers described the suspect as a local male wearing a white shirt and jeans and reported hearing glass breaking.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a witness who reported observing the suspect throw a large rock at a restaurant window before fleeing toward Kamehameha Avenue. Officers later located a male, later identified as Leong, matching the suspect’s description near the Mo‘oheau Bus Terminal.

Further investigation revealed damage to multiple downtown businesses, primarily shattered or heavily cracked glass windows caused by rocks. The total estimated value of damages is $12,500.

Police ask anyone with information related to this investigation to please contact Officer Justin Dodo of South Hilo Patrol at (808) 961-2213 or via email at Justin.Dodo@hawaiipolice.gov. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.