Hanalei man sentenced to 10 years for 2023 robbery of Bank of Hawaiʻi in Līhuʻe

A 38-year-old Hanalei man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbing Bank of Hawaiʻi in Līhuʻe in November 2023.

The Kauaʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney reports Robert I. Monroy pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and was sentenced Jan. 9 by Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano.

Monroy also pleaded guilty to second-degree assault against a law enforcement officer in a separate case.

Kauaʻi Police Department investigators revealed Monroy entered Bank of Hawaiʻi on Rice Street and approached a bank teller on Nov. 23, 2023. He gave the teller a note saying he was robbing the bank, he had grenades and no one would get hurt if the teller handed over the money.

The teller gave Monroy money. Monroy put the money in his bag and left.

Officers saw Monroy walking down the street from the bank and placed him under arrest.

A search of his bag revealed a large amount of cash, including the bills from Bank of Hawaiʻi.

“We commend the quick and coordinated response of the Kauaʻi Police Department in apprehending this dangerous criminal immediately after this robbery was committed,” said Kauaʻi County Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like. “Monroy was detained within minutes of the offense taking place.

“We are fortunate that violent offenses like these are rare on Kauaʻi, but we express our gratitude to our first responders who never know when a call like this may come. Mahalo, [Kauaʻi Police Department].”

The case was prosecuted by Kauaʻi County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Arakawa. Shauna Lee Cahill-De Costa represented Monroy.