Pāhoa man sentenced to 15 years in prison for breaking into ex-girlfriend’s home, stabbing her several times in July 2021

A 43-year-old Puna man was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison for breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s Hawaiian Beaches home 4 years ago and stabbing her several times in the chest, back and left arm.

Hawai‘i County prosecutor’s office reports that Frank William Funes of Pāhoa appeared July 16 in Hilo Circuit Court for sentencing.

A Hilo jury in September 2024 found Funes guilty as charged of first-degree burglary, a Class B felony, and the included offense of second-degree assault, a Class C felony. He was originally charged with second-degree attempted murder for the attack on his ex-girlfriend.

Funes received the the maximum penalties for both offenses, which the court ordered to be served consecutively.

First-degree burglary is punishable by either 10 years in prison or 4 years probation and up to 18 months in jail. Second-degree assault carries a penalty of either 5 years in prison or 5 years probation and up to a year in jail.

Funes on July 8, 2021, broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home in Hawaiian Beaches and proceeded to stab her with a large folding lockback knife, like a Buck Knife, in the left and right sides of her chest and left back side of her chest, left armpit and left arm.

The woman also sustained a collapsed lung in the assault.

The felony investigation was handled by Detective Gavin Kagimoto with the Hawai‘i Police Department Office of Professional Standards/Criminal Intelligence Unit and formerly a member of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section.

Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorneys Heipua Ahloy and Ha‘aheo Kaho‘ohalahala prosecuted the case.