Authorities have apprehended three teenagers in connection with a brutal assault on a California family at an upscale resort in Maui, which the victims claim was driven by racial motivations.
The altercation erupted around 10 p.m. on July 17 at the Kaanapali Alii Resort in West Maui. Local police were called to the scene to handle a disturbance involving about 30 individuals near the pool area, resulting in at least one person suffering a serious head injury.
A group of seven California visitors, aged between 17 and 62, reported that they were attacked after a contingent of youths threw chairs at them and referred to them as “haol boys.” The family feels they were targeted due to their white ethnicity, prompting law enforcement to examine the possibility of a hate crime.
In total, four individuals were arrested in relation to the incident, though the case has yet to be officially labeled as a hate crime.
On Monday, police took a 14-year-old boy from Lahaina and a 16-year-old boy from Wailuku into custody on allegations of rioting and second-degree assault. Another 16-year-old from Lahaina was also arrested on similar charges. All three were subsequently released while the investigation continues.
This latest arrest follows the previous detention of a 20-year-old man from Makawao, who was also taken in on second-degree assault accusations but has since been released as well.
At least six individuals sustained injuries during the brawl, with some needing significant medical attention.
Joseph Headfield, a family member, remarked that the violence began after a woman, believed to be the instigator of the group, made racial threats. “There were three women, and one of them was basically the ringleader,” he explained. “She stood up and declared, ‘Tonight I will beat your sons. I will beat the haol boys.’
“Haole,” the Hawaiian term for foreigner, often refers to someone who is white or not from the local area.
Maui Police spokesperson Alana Pico stated that the investigation is active, with authorities continuing to collect and analyze evidence. “If we find indications that this incident was fueled by bias, including racial bias, those involved will face appropriate charges,” Pico noted.
