Hate Crime Conviction of Hawaiian Man Upheld

A Hawaiian man, Kaulana Alo-Kaonohi, has faced a setback after his appeal against a hate crime conviction was denied. The incident dates back over a decade, where the 35-year-old was involved in a violent attack against a white individual, Christopher Kunzelman.

In a Hawaiian court, Alo-Kaonohi was sentenced to six and a half years alongside another man, Levi Aki Jr. The attack, which occurred in 2014, was described as racially motivated, with the court affirming that Alo-Kaonohi and Aki targeted Kunzelman due to his race.

Kunzelman, who suffered severe brain damage as a result of the attack, saw his marriage end due to the stress it caused, according to his ex-wife, Lori. Alo-Kaonohi sought to challenge his conviction, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling on Thursday.

During the trial, Alo-Kaonohi’s legal team claimed that the motivations behind the assault were more about Kunzelman’s demeanor than his race. However, the court found otherwise. It’s uncertain how much additional time Alo-Kaonohi will serve; some legal experts, like federal defender Alexander Silvert, speculate he could face three more years based on the judge’s prior decisions.

Lori Kunzelman expressed relief with the extended sentence, as she felt it would bring justice, especially after the duo had to leave their dream home. The couple had bought a property in Hawaii for $175,000, which they still own, but Lori is now looking to move away from Arizona after dealing with multiple sclerosis.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared that they used to visit Maui every year and felt welcomed, indicating how starkly different the recent events have been. She commented on the difficulty of selling their house due to local resistance, saying, “locals don’t allow anyone to step in.”

Lori further asserted that it was evident the attack stemmed from hate, recalling that remarks made during the assault reflected racial bias. The term “haole,” which means “foreigner” or “white” in Hawaiian, played a central role in the trial.

The issues between native Hawaiians and white tourists often arise from a complex history, including the forced incorporation of the islands into the U.S. The Hawaii Innocence Project is reportedly preparing to contest the ruling, arguing that the term “haole” shouldn’t be considered merely derogatory.