Police Arrest and Charge Two individuals with Firearm and Drug Related Offenses

Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 26-year-old Kyle M. J. Benevides, of Pāhoa, in connection with a firearm incident that occurred early Friday morning, May 30, 2025, in the area of the 1500 block on Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo.

The charges against Benevides stem from an incident that occurred shortly after midnight on Friday when it was reported that a male party, later identified as a 17-year-old male, discharged a firearm in the direction of a crowd while in the parking area of an establishment on Kamehameha Avenue. The juvenile’s name is being withheld at this time due to his age. The 17-year-old male left the area as a passenger in a vehicle heading into Keaukaha on Kalaniana‘ole Avenue. South Hilo patrol officers responded to the scene and while contacting witnesses, additional officers made checks for the vehicle and juvenile suspect. 

The juvenile suspect was later located as the passenger in a vehicle operated by Benevides at a beach park in Keaukaha. The juvenile was arrested and charged for the following offenses:

• First-degree terroristic threatening
• First-degree reckless endangering
• Status offense of runaway
• Juvenile bench warrant for criminal contempt of court

The juvenile was subsequently released to the Department of Law Enforcement – Sheriff Division for placement at the Hawai‘i Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF) on Oahu.

When officers contacted Benevides, a firearm was observed within the vehicle and he was arrested for the offense of place to keep firearm. The Area I Juvenile Aid Section was notified of this investigation and the vehicle was recovered and towed to the Hilo Police Station pending the execution of a search warrant.

Later that same day when the Juvenile Aid Section detectives executed a search warrant on the vehicle Benevides was operating, they recovered three firearms, two of which had no serial numbers, as well as a large amount of illegal narcotics. The Vice East Section assisted, and recovered 585.26 grams (more than 1.25 pounds) of cocaine, 24.26 grams of methamphetamine, 170.95 grams of processed marijuana, 29 Alprazolam tablets, 2.29 grams of marijuana concentrate and 61 marijuana concentrate vape pens from within the vehicle.

After conferral with the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Area I Juvenile Aid Section and the Vice East Section charged Benevides with the following offenses:

• Two counts of place to keep pistol or revolver
• Place to keep unloaded firearm, not pistol
• Place to keep ammunition
• Mandatory registration of firearm
• Permit to acquire
• Two counts of manufacturing, purchasing, or obtaining a firearm having no serial number
• First-degree promoting a dangerous drug
• Two counts of first-degree promoting a detrimental drug
• Third-degree promoting a dangerous drug

Total bail for Benevides was set at $178,000. His initial court appearance is set for Monday, June 2, in South Hilo District Court.

Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Kelsey Kobayashi of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section at (808) 961-2276, or via email at kelsey.kobayashi@hawaiicounty.gov. The narcotic portion of the investigation was handled by Officer Spencer Thomas with the Vice East Section and can be reached at (808) 961-2340, or via email at Spencer.thomas@hawaiicounty.gov.