Two men to be tried in attack linked to gambling

By Allison Schaefers
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two men were ordered to stand trial on felony assault charges involving a Young Street brawl last month relating to a turf war between two groups protecting O'ahu's illegal gambling operations.

Solomona "Solo" Nakagawa, top, and Robert Holi Kaialau III will be tried on charges from an attack on two men guarding a gambling house. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Both the defense attorneys and prosecutors described the attack as a rivalry between one faction of more than 20 men and the guards of the Young Street operation, although Kaialau's lawyer said his client was not one of the attackers.

But the case provides a rare glimpse into the shadowy world of illegal gambling operations and the people who provide security for the gaming houses.

Although police have known about security rivalries for years, turf wars with violence are not the norm, said Honolulu police Capt. Kevin Lima.

"It's not good for business," Lima said. "The gambling houses don't want people fighting over anything. They want to keep everything confidential."

Police estimate there may be between five to a dozen illegal gambling operations on O'ahu.

At yesterday's preliminary hearing, District Court Judge Faye Koyanagi listened to the two men who were attacked and ruled that there was enough evidence to send the case to trial.

The judge reduced Nakagawa's bail to $40,000 at the hearing so that his family could attempt to get him out of jail in time to attend his uncle's funeral this week. Kaialau had posted his $75,000 bail.

Kaialau, who said he's coached riflery at Kapolei High School and has given anti-drug presentations in the community, declined to comment on any specifics regarding his case, but suggested drug dealers were behind the accusations.

"The drug dealers need to come up with something better," he said.

Guy Matsunaga, a private attorney retained by Kaialau, said his client wasn't at the Young Street gambling operations.

Nakagawa, who works at Pipeline Cafe, did not comment, but his sister Kate Kaahu of Waipahu said he's innocent.

"He didn't do anything," Kaahu said. "He's a gentle-giant type."

Security guards Tinoimalo Sao, top, and Raymond Gomes Jr. said they were attacked at a Young Street gaming house. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Sao said he was a guard at a Kapi'olani gambling house when Kaialau and others raided the establishment, which later closed down as a result of the incident. The same club owner now runs the Young Street operation, Sao said.

"I recognized Robert's voice and I'd seen him before," Sao testified. "He came to the game room at Kapi'olani."

Lima said police investigated the clash, but the dispute was settled without violence.

On the night of the Young Street attack, Sao testified yesterday, he was installing a security camera for the gameroom when he was pulled off a ladder by two men. They threw him on a metal table, and Kaialau beat him with an aluminum baseball bat on his neck, ribs and back, he said.

"He was upset with me and was swinging full blast," Sao said.

Sao said Kaialau left, returned with a microwave oven and threw the appliance at him.

"He came back and said kill those two guys," Sao said.

Raymond Gomes Jr., the other Young Street security guard, testified that Nakagawa repeatedly stabbed him with a paring knife and threw hot tea on him.

Gomes said he suffered head injuries, bruised ribs and several cuts and still has several bruises and lacerations.

"My whole concern was for my safety. I felt the warmness of the blood, and my head started getting fat. I thought I was gonna die," Gomes said.

The two men testified that they let the rival security group inside the gambling house because they believed that they were Honolulu police officers conducting a raid. The two said Kaialau wore a dark blue T-shirt with "HPD" and "POLICE" stenciled on the front and back.

An undercover officer, who asked that his name not be used because he infiltrates illegal gambling operations for HPD, said after yesterday's hearing that although there used to be as many as five security groups on O'ahu, turf wars have brought the count down.

The officer said the Kapi'olani incident spurred the turf war between the rival groups.

Three weeks before the fight at Young Street, undercover officers witnessed problems while they were inside the gambling house, the officer said. In one instance, the roof was set on fire, and in another, the rival security group fired shots through the front door, he said.

"It's all about money and power," the officer said. "This was done so that nobody would go to the Young Street house."

In the past, the security groups have given police few problems, the officer said.

"They usually comply because they are just there to protect the place," he said.

Police are concerned that the security turf war could heat up, he said.

"We're concerned that they are going to start carrying weapons," the officer said.

Reach Allison Schaefers aschaefers@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110.