Jury convicts Kaneholani of first-degree murder in shooting death of MPD Officer Suzanne O

After a two week trial, a 2nd Circuit Court jury convicted Clembert Kaneholani, 39, of first-degree murder Thursday for killing Maui Police Department Officer Suzanne O more than a year ago in Pāʻia. The conviction carries a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“While no amount of time in a prison cell can replace the loss of Officer O or heal the pain her family and loved ones carry every day, today’s sentence ensures this dangerous individual will never again threaten our community,” said acting Chief of Police Wade Maeda in a statement released shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday.

Police arrested Kaneholani and charged him with multiple felonies, including O’s murder, after officers responded to an “in-progress terroristic threatening” incident reported at 8:26 p.m. Aug. 15, 2025, at the Pāʻia Sugar Mill off Baldwin Avenue.

A caller told police that an unknown individual had trespassed onto the property and fired a weapon at them. Upon arrival, officers encountered the armed suspect, who discharged a firearm, striking one of the responding officers. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect in the lower body. Police took him into custody, and he received medical treatment.

Police tried to treat O, but she succumbed to her injuries. The MPD ohana was overcome by shock and grief.

At the time, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said: “Our department is heartbroken. We have lost one of our finest—an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our community. She was a hero, and we will ensure she is honored with the reverence she deserves. Our deepest condolences go out to her family, loved ones, and fellow officers during this time of profound loss.”

On Thursday night, Maeda said: “We are encouraged by today’s decision and the momentum it brings toward passage of the Suzanne O bill in the upcoming Legislative session. The Maui Police Department will forever honor Officer O’s ultimate sacrifice and continue to uphold her legacy.”

Maeda is acting chief because the Maui Police Commission put Pelletier on paid administrative leave while it conducts an independent investigation into the chief’s oversight of the Criminal Intelligence Unit and any related supervisory actions concerning him.

Senate Bill 2575, also called the Suzanne O Bill, would change from a misdemeanor to a Class C felony the penalty for possessing, controlling or transferring ownership of any firearm or ammunition by a person who is restrained by court order from contacting, threatening or physically abusing any person. The measure also changes from a misdemeanor to a Class B felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance, including methamphetamine.

In written testimony submitted in support of Bill 2575, Pelletier said the measure “draws a clear line.”

“If you are already breaking the law, or under a court order, you should not be allowed to carry a firearm in Hawaiʻi,” the chief said. “Officers responding to domestic violence, traffic stops, or disturbances often face very dangerous situations. Tougher penalties for unlawful firearm possession by high-risk offender’s help reduce the chance of armed resistance, calm tense situations, and lower the risk of off icer-involved shootings. Preventing these incidents is the best way to ensure accountability.”

Pelletier said Senate Bill 2575 “honors not only Officer Suzanne O, but all law enforcement officers in Hawaiʻi who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.”