Day: July 31, 2026
Family member Joseph Headfield said the violence began around 10 p.m. after a group allegedly threw chairs and attacked his relatives near the resort’s pool. He said the assault was preceded by racial threats from a woman he described as the group’s ringleader, who shouted: “We’re going to beat up the haole boys.” “Haole” is a Hawaiian term commonly used to describe white people or non-locals.
According to relatives Daniel and Julie, six victims aged 17 to 62 required medical treatment. One family member was struck in the head with a chair while trying to protect relatives and needed 13 staples to close the wound.
Maui Police responded to a disturbance involving around 30 people. A 20-year-old man from Makawao was arrested on suspicion of assault but was later released while detectives continue investigating.
The family is urging authorities to treat the case as a hate crime, arguing they were singled out because of their race. Police have not classified the assault as a hate crime and say the investigation remains ongoing.
