HONOLULU -- Police captured a man Friday accused of running down a Honolulu police officer.

Officer Keahi Omai is in critical, but stable, condition at Queen's Medical Center. Police said the suspect, Daniel Vesper, ran down Omai with a van.

Police arrested Vesper on Umi Street in Kalihi at around 6 p.m.

Earlier, police canvassed the hills of Kalihi where Vesper was sighted.

Friends of Vesper say they tried to convince the man to turn himself in, but instead of giving up, Vesper took off.

HPD's Special Services Division crews and Fort Shafter Military Police joined in the search for Vesper after receiving a tip he was at Hauwiki Homes. The area is a state housing project at the top of Meyers Street in Kalihi.

Blossom Molina said at around 12:30 p.m., Vesper came knocking on their door asking for help. Molina said her daughter called police while she tried to talk Vesper into turning himself in.

"We tried to convince him and everything, but he's not going down easy. He's going to take a couple police officers down before he turns himself in," Molina said.

Vesper fled on foot once he realized police were closing in. Helicopters and police dogs were brought in for the hunt. The search grew to the hills above the housing area.

It also led police to search a home on the other end of Meyers Street.

Sources said Vesper has a long criminal record with 25 arrests and eight convictions, two of which were felony charges involving stolen vehicles. He's also a suspect in a case involving a police officer last month.

Friend Outraged At Officer's Shooting

Hokulea navigator Nainoa Thompson has been at Omai's hospital bedside all night.

Thompson knows Omai as a longtime member of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Omai was a co-navigator on the Hokulea's 1995 voyage to Tahiti.

Thompson said he was furious when he heard a felon suspect had hit Omai with a van and then fled the scene.

"I was totally enraged. I mean, Hawaii needs our heroes. You know? Hawaii needs our heroes that are the real ones that live by the right kinds of values. They don't talk about it, but they act them out and Keahi is one of those. And to have someone to put him at such risk is just so unfair," Thompson said.

Omai is so close to Thompson he listed Thompson as his next of kin to be notified in case of an emergency. Thompson said Omai's strength will get him through this and he expects to see him back on the water.