Media release by Hawaii County Police

Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested a Hilo woman in connection with a robbery Thursday morning (January 31) in Downtown Hilo.

Shortly after noon, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery that occurred at 11:50 a.m. at a business at the corner of Keawe Street and Furneaux Lane. They learned that a 33-year-old female employee had been accosted by a woman who displayed a handgun and demanded cash. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of money and was seen driving away in a white pickup truck.

Through the license plate number, police determined the identity and location of the person who was driving the truck. At 12:30 p.m., they arrested 23-year-old Tia Nohealani Menino of Hilo on Makaʻala Street in the Hilo industrial area.

She is being held at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this robbery call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380. Detective Morimoto may also be reached by email at dmorimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.