Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged a 23-year-old Honokaʻa man for allegedly using a digital messaging platform to entice a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested and charged a 23-year-old Honokaʻa man for allegedly using a digital messaging platform to entice a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
On June 17, 2026, police initiated an investigation after receiving a report that a 23-year-old man had exchanged sexually explicit messages with a 14-year-old girl over the course of several days using the social media application Snapchat.
As a result of the investigation, detectives arrested Kainalu Palik, 23, of Honokaʻa, without incident on June 22, 2026.
On June 23, 2026, detectives from the Hawaii Police Department’s Area II Juvenile Aid Section charged Palik with Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree. He remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Area II Juvenile Aid Section Detective Carrie Akina at (808) 326-4646, extension 3278, or by email at Carrie.Akina@hawaiipolice.gov.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. Anonymous tips may qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.
