Hawaii is frequently seen as a cosmopolitan paradise where tranquility reigns, however the state has a violent and troubled past involving racial tensions. One event that serves as an example happened in 2014 in the small Maui hamlet of Kahakuloa. Two Native Hawaiian men viciously attacked a white man who was trying to settle into their isolated, traditional fishing community.
The Trial and the Assault
Driven by her desire to live near the seaside following a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Christopher Kunzelman and his wife paid $175,000 for an oceanfront home in Kahakuloa without doing a thorough inspection. On the day of the attack, Kaulana Alo-Kaonohi and Levi Aki Jr. confronted them, unaware of the village’s deep cultural background. They beat, kicked, and shoveled Kunzelman, accusing him of being a trespasser and disrespecting their property. He suffered a concussion, two fractured ribs, and brain trauma as a result. In addition, the attackers vowed to murder him if he went back to the community.
Following their apprehension, Alo-Kaonohi and Aki were accused of a federal hate crime, which carries a potential 10-year prison term. They entered a not-guilty plea and stated that Kunzelman’s race was not a driving force behind the defense of their ancestral rights. According to their argument, Kunzelman incited them by acting haughtily and conceitedly and by disobeying their pleas to leave their hallowed territory.
But a jury found them guilty in November 2022 after finding that they had attacked Kunzelman because of his race. Although acknowledging the distinct nature of the hate crime, U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright maintained that there was clear evidence of racial intent. He claimed that if Kunzelman hadn’t been white, the attack would not have happened.
Seabright condemned Aki to four years and two months in prison and Alo-Kaonohi to six and a half years in prison in March 2023. They also had to reimburse Kunzelman and his wife $40,000 in restitution.
The Context and Importance
The example of Alo-Kaonohi and Aki illuminates the complex interplay between race and identity in Hawaii, a state with a wide variety of ethnicities and cultural traditions. Hawaii’s indigenous people, known as Native Hawaiians, have a history of colonization, persecution, and resistance. White settlers, missionaries, businesspeople, and the US government have all discriminated against them, marginalized them, and taken their land. The fight against assimilation and globalization to protect language, culture, and sovereignty is still ongoing.
Certain Native Hawaiians have voiced their resentment and animosity toward white people, whom they perceive as oppressors and invaders. Concerns about resources, recognition, and representation have also led to tensions with other ethnic communities. Alongside a more inclusive view of Hawaii, there are discussions over Native Hawaiians’ right to independence, autonomy, or self-determination.
In Hawaii’s economy and society, the case calls into question issues of tolerance and diversity. Hawaii is commended for its unity and diversity, yet it also has issues with division, segregation, and inequality. While some regard diversity as a strength that promotes wealth and innovation, others see it as a threat that leads to strife and deterioration.
The cases of Alo-Kaonohi and Aki serve as a reminder that prejudice and violence may appear anywhere, even in an area that is well-known for its natural beauty and diversity. It highlights the need for constant communication, tolerance, and understanding amongst various communities and individuals in order to achieve variety and harmony. All who reside in Hawaii or travel there should learn about and value the state’s rich and complicated history and culture.
