Criminal Alleges Ariel Sellers Buried at Bumpy Kanahele’s Waimanalo Compound 

by Andrew Walden

In a June 2, 2024, Instagram post, former methamphetamines addict and criminal Robert G. Branco claims that, while in jail, he encountered Isaac ‘Sonny’ Kalua, who is, along with his wife Lehua Kanahele Kalua, being held for trial in the 2021 murder of six-year old foster child Ariel Sellers (also known as Isabella Kalua).

Branco, without providing any evidence, claims that Ariel Sellers body is buried at Bumpy Kanahele’s Waimanalo compound. 

Addressing Bumpy about two and a half minutes into the video, Branco says: 

“I know it haunts you.  Last time I was locked up, I was locked up with Sonny. … Lehua (Kanahele Kalua) is actually your god daughter that you took care of.  You’d do anything for her.  The body of Isabella … when I talked to Sonny when I used to deliver the food to the CC.  And I sat down with him and I told him, ‘If the Federal Government gets ahold of this, you guys face the death penalty.’  And he wen panicked.  And he said…you guys put the cage that you were keeping Isabella in and some of her stuffs and you guys took them up to mauka and wen bury her up at mauka.’   

“Because I know the mentality.  You come back to the days of da kine: ‘No mo body.  No mo case.’

“Bruddah, they gon burn along with you.  Because, you know what?  Sonny is gonna testify.

“The thing is that all they wanna know is that where Isabella / Ariel’s body is?  And its up at mauka.

“I don’t know how you can sleep at night.  That’s hewa.  That’s hewa hewa….

“Sonny, your god-son-in-law, gonna expose all you guys….  That’s why you not on the property no more.”

Isaac and Lehua Kalua were arraigned for murder November 12, 2021 and have been held without bail since.

If Branco did encounter Kalua in jail, it would have been within a narrow time frame.  According to E Court Kokua (1CPC-18-0001684) Branco had been ‘violated’ on HOPE probation November 8, 2021.  The resulting Bench Warrant was served December 21, 2021.  Court minutes February 1, 2022 read: “Custody defendant not transported due to medical isolation.”  The minutes later indicate Branco was released from jail February 24, 2022 and released from probation on October 13, 2023.

In his Instagram post, Branco does not explain why he waited so long to speak up.  Neither PACER nor ECourtKokua reveal any criminal cases against Branco at this time. 

One anonymous source tells Hawai’i Free Press, “HPD is taking this seriously and attempting to determine whether Branco may have indeed been able to contact Kalua while in jail.”

Hawai’i Free Press has requested comment from Bumpy Kanahele, the Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office. 

Prosecutor’s spokesperson Brooks Baehr replied: “The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney does not discuss ongoing cases that have not been adjudicated.”

Others did not respond.

Will update if additional responses are received.

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PDF: Branco criminal transcript

KHON: Hawaii's Most Wanted: Robert Branco (khon2.com)

VIDEO: Robert Branco | Original audio on Instagram