State v. Masaniai

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

OGATA, J.

Defendant-appellant, Sooga Masaniai, Jr., appeals from his conviction on March 31, 1977, of three counts of robbery in the first degree in violation of HRS § 708-840(l)(b)(ii).

On June 13, 1976, at about 9:00 p.m., Ronald Pang, his brother Roland Pang, and their friend Gerrold Kam were walking along Ohenana Loop in Halawa towards the ferris wheel and lights of the 50th State Fair at the Aloha Stadium. A young Samoan male and a young Filipino male approached them from behind and asked for a match or a cigarette. They replied that they did not have any, and walked…