Crime Statistics

After last week’s finding of defendant Clembert Alii Kaneholani guilty of murder in the first degree and other charges in the death of Maui Police Department Officer Suzanne O, a Maui jury today returned verdicts finding that the defendant should be subject to extended terms of imprisonment for the protection of the public.

Roberto Omar Morales Andrade, 49, of Lahaina was sentenced today to consecutive prison terms totaling 60 years for multiple counts of sexual assault of a child.

United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Isaiah Okudara, 39, of Maui, pleaded guilty on Oct. 2, 2026 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2027 before United States District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park.

The Maui Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team welcomed 22 new members to its list of trained personnel during a graduation ceremony on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

According to court records, Douglas Taylor, aka “Dougiie 2 Fresh,” of Maui agreed to sell a confidential source methamphetamine and cocaine over the course of 10 controlled buys. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 2, 2026 to two counts of distributing more than fifty grams of methamphetamine.

Maui residents turned in nearly 40 firearms and 58 illegal pounds of illegal fireworks during Saturday’s dual buyback event in Kahului.

Crime in Hawaiʻi declined by more than 10% in 2025 compared with the year before, according to statewide crime statistics.

Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, was sentenced in federal court to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil.

Maui resident Christopher Steven Helmer, 37, was sentenced today to a 10-year prison term for kidnapping, terroristic threatening, and related firearms and drug offenses, with the term ordered to run consecutively to a prison sentence he is already serving for a separate armed carjacking.

United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Justin Nelson, 43, of Kīhei, Maui, appeared Thursday, Sept. 3, before US Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter and entered a plea of guilty to bank robbery. Sentencing is set for Dec. 18, 2026 before Senior US District Judge Helen Gillmor.

County of Maui Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin announced the indictment of a Maui Police Department officer on multiple counts of alleged sexual assault. The charges stem from an encounter between the officer and a citizen following a single-car crash of the victim’s vehicle.

A 12-year veteran of the Maui Police Department was arrested by MPD on a $150,000 warrant on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026.

A construction project on the Maui High School campus was significantly vandalized, causing major damage to what will become a new restroom. Concrete walls, columns, pallets of concrete blocks and other areas inside the site were demolished. State officials described the extent as criminal property damage and say the incident occurred Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Chief John Pelletier emphasized a “zero tolerance” approach to the incident, initiating both internal and external audits in an effort to restore public trust. The external review will be conducted by Hawaiʻi County Police Chief Reed K. Mahuna to ensure transparency and objectivity.

Two Maui men were arrested on eight criminal counts for alleged involvement in labor trafficking and extortion, following the execution of search warrants at a Kīhei residence on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.

The community is invited to join in department-led Officer Suzanne O Sign Waving events in honor of her memory and to encourage the passage of the Officer Suzanne O Bill during the upcoming legislative session.

Maui police have launched a second degree murder investigation into the death of a 71-year-old man in Kahului, Thursday night.

A ninth person was arrested in connection with an investigation into an assault and riot that occurred on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the pool area of Kāʻanapali Aliʻi in Lahaina.

“These allegations involving Lieutenant Michael Vaitu’ulala are difficult for me to reconcile with the person I have known both professionally and personally for many years. I trusted him and considered him a friend, and he was present during deeply personal moments in my life, including conducting the blessing when my father’s ashes were scattered,” said Pelletier.

Probable cause was found Thursday during a preliminary hearing for 40-year-old Congressional candidate Kirill Basin of Kīhei, who is accused of two counts of first degree terroristic threatening for an incident reported Saturday at Keawakapu Beach in South Maui.