A 30-year-old man may remain free on $150,000 bail while awaiting trial on murder charges in connection with the May 16 slaying of a former sumo wrestler in Kahalu'u, a state judge ruled yesterday.

Kealiiokalani Meheula has been charged with murder in connection with the stab-bing death of his long-time friend Percy Kipapa, 31, whose body was found slumped over the wheel of a pickup truck on Okana Road.

Meheula confessed to the stabbing, police said, and had been in custody until last week, unable to post bail.

City Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Kim said Meheula's family and friends came up with the cash needed to purchase a bail bond from the Da Kine bail company.

As soon as he learned that Meheula had posted bail, Kim filed a request with Circuit Judge Marcia Waldorf to revoke the bail and hold Meheula without bail while awaiting his trial, which is set for January.

At a hearing yesterday on his no-bail request, Kim said Meheula is a threat to the safety of the community, to the victim's family and to potential witnesses who may be called to testify against him.

But Meheula's lawyer, William Domingo, told the judge that Meheula has strong family ties, is in the process of getting into a substance abuse program and does not have an extensive violent crime record.

But Kim argued that Meheula was already out on bail in an unrelated terroristic threatening case at the time Kipapa was killed.

Domingo countered that Meheula has been out on bail for nearly a week and has not caused any problems.

Judge Waldorf turned down the no-bail request but imposed a number of conditions on Meheula, including orders to stay away from any of the witnesses, weapons and illicit drugs.

The judge scheduled a bail review hearing for next week to make sure Meheula is abiding by all of the conditions.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.