Racially Motivated Attack at Maui Resort
A family from California has accused a group of carrying out a racially charged attack against them at a luxury resort in Maui. The alleged assault occurred during a chaotic poolside brawl, involving instances of chairs being thrown and punches being thrown, affecting family members from teenagers to the elderly.
The Maui Police Department reported that officers were called to the Kaanapali Alii Resort around 10 p.m. on July 17. Upon arrival, they encountered a gathering of 10 to 15 individuals near the pool area, some showing signs of injuries.
Preliminary investigations revealed that seven victims from California, aged 17 to 62, indicated that they were assaulted by a large group of young men who subsequently fled the scene.
One victim recounted to investigators that his family was near the pool when an unfamiliar man approached, seeking assistance. Soon after, several young males followed this man into the vicinity, shifting their focus to those nearby.
“The group reportedly started throwing chairs and attacking several individuals without regard for age, including an elderly relative who was assaulted,” police told reporters.
The family explained that the attackers allegedly threatened to “beat up the haole boys” before the violence broke out. “Haole” is a Hawaiian term typically used to refer to individuals who are not of Hawaiian descent.
The family has expressed a desire for the incident to be investigated as a hate crime, although Maui Police have yet to classify it as such.
One relative, reportedly among the more seriously injured, suffered a head injury after being struck with a chair while trying to shield other family members.
Authorities indicated that a 20-year-old man from Makawao was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, but was later released as the investigation continues. The incident is currently categorized as assault/riot, with detectives actively gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Kaanapali Alii issued a statement regarding the incident, asserting that the safety of their guests is a top priority and that their security team acted promptly by contacting the police and emergency services after the altercation.
The resort noted that it is cooperating with law enforcement and conducting its own internal investigation into the incident.
While addressing the family’s claims of racial targeting, the resort emphasized the importance of allowing the investigation to run its course before making any assumptions about motives or circumstances.
They did acknowledge previous reports of threatening behavior from individuals involved prior to the violence, but refrained from discussing specifics to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with further information or video footage related to the incident is encouraged to reach out to the Maui Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.
