Father had bad feeling before son was stabbed

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Andrew Nakoa Sr. had a bad feeling Friday night, an inkling that compelled him to ask his son to stop drinking with friends near the gate of their apartment complex.

But Andrew Nakoa Jr., 21, did not bring the party inside, and by 10:30 p.m. Friday he was dead, stabbed to death during a fight in front of Fuji Market, in the 500 block of North King Street.

Police said yesterday that they are still looking for suspects in the case, and they are still investigating if the victim knew his assailants.

"It's too bad. He was my oldest (of three children)," Nakoa said yesterday. "I knew something was going to happen. I didn't know it was going be deadly."

Nakoa said that on the night his son died, Andrew Jr. was on the North King Street corner of the Mayor Wright Housing complex, drinking with three other men a little after 10 p.m. He said his son and another man, whom he declined to identify, walked into Fuji Market to buy a case of beer.

Police said three men were standing outside the market when Nakoa Jr. walked into the store.

The father said his son's companion mouthed off to the men outside the market as the two were leaving, sparking a fight. Police said Nakoa Jr.'s two friends saw the fight break out and rushed down the street to help.

During the fight Nakoa Jr. was stabbed, police said.

The man who stabbed Nakoa Jr., and his two friends, took off running, police said. At this point, the store owner walked outside in time to see the victim fall to the ground, police said.

While the store owner ran inside to call 911, Nakoa Jr.'s friends tried to chase the assailants, but did not catch them, police said.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110