Police, mourners face off at park
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
More than 100 heavily armed police officers faced off last night with an angry crowd that threw bottles and chairs at them during a party to celebrate the life of a murdered man.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Three people were arrested during the confrontation at the Makalapa Neighborhood Park, near the Pu'uwai Momi housing project. Police said one of those arrested was the mother of Mikiala "Keola" Kahalewai, who was beaten to death outside an Ala Moana nightclub April 19. A man has been charged with murder in his death.
Police stood guard at the Pu'uwai Momi housing project after breaking up a gathering at the nearby Makalapa Neighborhood Park last night. About 100 mourners were attending a "celebration of life" at the park following a funeral.
The "celebration of life" followed Kahalewai's funeral and was set for 2 to 6 p.m. at the park. Police said that since Kahalewai's death there had been problems at the housing project where he lived and police anticipated trouble.
At about 6 p.m., plainclothes officers went to the park and saw more than 100 mourners under two canopies. Police said many had been drinking.
"They were all liquored up and we told them you cannot drink," said one officer who did not want his name used. "They started throwing bottles and throwing chairs. They all came and challenged us."
But police were prepared for the trouble and about 100 officers, including the Specialized Services Division, swarmed the park. There were no reports of injuries.
"We wouldn't come and confront a large group of people who were drinking with a small crowd so we actually came out with over a hundred officers," said Maj. Bryan Wauke, Pearl City station commander. Wauke said no one fought with the officers, although there were tense moments. Police used the park's basketball court as a command post and asked the crowd to leave.
Police remained at the scene until late last night, hoping trouble would not flare up again.
"We had no intentions of arresting anyone," Wauke said. "We just wanted them to disperse, clean up everything and go. But that didn't happen."
Kimberlyn Ng, a Pu'uwai Momi resident for 20 years, said her two nieces were near the park when emotions reached a boiling point and they called her at home.
"When I came I saw the crowd and ... I was afraid for the kids because I didn't want anybody else to get hurt," Ng said. "We tried to disperse the crowd. The police were very calm, they stood their ground.
"The first thing I did was try to push the kids away from the fence and away from the police officers so nobody would get hurt because (the mourners') tempers were really high."
Ng added that she knew Kahalewai and said he was a "respectful" person. But many of his friends are young and don't know how to deal with their grief, she said.
"You have a feeling (this would happen) only because you know that the kids are tight," she said. "This is housing. But we wanted this to end in a good way for Keola."
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
