Seven visitors from a California family reported being attacked the night of Friday, July 17, at the pool area of the Kaanapali Alii, one of West Maui’s best-known resorts. At least six people required medical treatment, Maui police made one arrest, and the investigation remains active.
This incident has raised questions among Beat of Hawaii readers who’ve written to us, many of whom have stayed at the property or have upcoming reservations in Kaanapali or on Maui. Beyond what police have confirmed, much of what has circulated online remains unverified, and only one side has spoken publicly about what happened.
What Maui police have confirmed about the Kaanapali Alii incident.
According to Maui police, officers responded around 10 p.m. Friday and found 10 to 15 people gathered near the pool at the Kaanapali Alii, several with visible injuries. Seven visitors from California, ranging in age from 17 to 62, told investigators that a large group of juveniles had assaulted members of their party, then left the property before officers arrived.
Witnesses told police that members of the group threw chairs and assaulted people near the pool and barbecue area. At least six people were hurt seriously enough to need medical treatment, and while medical personnel treated some at the scene, others declined.
Police arrested a 20-year-old Makawao man on suspicion of assault in the second degree. He was later released pending further investigation, and as of publication, no additional arrests have been announced. Kaanapali Alii Resort management declined to comment.
Investigators have asked anyone with information to contact the Maui Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 808-244-6425. Police have not publicly identified what started the confrontation, whether additional charges are expected, or whether investigators have determined any motive.
What the California family says happened at the Kaanapali Alii.
The most detailed public account has come from members of the California family who spoke with Hawaii News Now. According to the family, the confrontation began earlier in the evening near Whalers Village, where they say a group of Maui youths began harassing visitors, and escalated later near the resort’s pool and barbecue area.
Family member Joseph Headfield said one person in the group told them they were going to beat up “the haole boys.” Relatives said two teenagers later ran to the family asking for help before the group followed them back to the resort.
The family said one man needed 13 staples for a head wound. They believe the attack was racially motivated and have said it should be investigated as a hate crime.
That is the family’s account and characterization of the incident. Maui police have not publicly confirmed those allegations, have not identified any motive, and have not characterized the incident as racially motivated. No other participants have publicly described what they say happened, and the investigation remains underway.
What Maui police have not said about the Kaanapali attack.
Police have not publicly explained what triggered the confrontation or whether the events described by the California family represent the complete sequence of what occurred. Investigators have not announced whether additional arrests are expected, whether surveillance video has clarified any of the events, or whether any motive has been established.
No one from the group the family describes has offered a public account. Until investigators complete their work or additional participants come forward, there are significant gaps in what is known. We will update this article as Maui police release more information.
What West Maui visitors should take from the Kaanapali incident.
One serious incident should not be treated as evidence of a broader pattern in Kaanapali or West Maui. Countless visitors stay in the Kaanapali resort area without experiencing anything like this. Beat of Hawaii editors have traveled these islands for decades, and we have never personally encountered an incident like this one. That does not lessen the seriousness of what was reported to have occurred Friday night, but it also does not support conclusions reaching beyond the limited facts now available.
For travelers with upcoming reservations, the most reasonable course is following the investigation as it develops rather than rely on claims circulating online that police have not confirmed. Maui police said detectives have interviewed those involved and the investigation is continuing.
Beat of Hawaii will be reporting from Kaanapali in August.
Long before this incident occurred, we had already planned an upcoming reporting trip to West Maui. We will be staying in Kaanapali, talking with visitors and businesses, and spending time throughout the resort area as part of our continuing coverage of West Maui. Once we are there, we’ll report firsthand on what we find rather than relying only on official statements or secondhand accounts. We would also like to hear from readers with firsthand information or concerns about an upcoming West Maui stay, and we ask that comments stay with direct experiences and travel questions rather than speculation about what happened.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
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If the resorts and shopping complexes on maui do not have full time security guards and closed circuit 24 hour monitored cameras in place then no one is safe. How can an out of control large gang of local boys publicly harrass, threaten and follow a vacationing family back into another resort hotel, going from a large resort shopping complex and no security guards interceded in either location and no one called police on this gang of punks ?
If hotels, resorts and tourist oriented shopping areas on maui aren’t safe from these kinds of violent, hating punks from gathering, then maui is lost. And we are all vulnerable ti this type of behavior. We’ve definitely hit rock bottom if this is ignored, acceptable and swept under the proverbial “Maui no ka oi ” carpet. Multiple head staples reqired??? How long did this crazy multi person beat down go on until someone, anyone noticed and helped ???? Totally shameful.
A couple of thoughts on this incident. First, it doesn’t make me want to cancel our Maui trip but it does make me want to see how the investigation turns out.
Second, doesn’t Whalers Village or the resort have security cameras covering these areas. That would seemingly answer a lot of questions.
This is really disappointing to hear, and I hope the offenders are all caught and punished severely. I would hate for us to become like the mainland.
We booked the Alii for next year so this definitely caught my attention. I feel terrible for the family that was injured. At the same time, I’d like to hear the other side and see some police reports before making up my mind.
With that many people involved, I have to think someone has videos of this. It seems like investigators should eventually be able to sort out what happened.
I’ve been a 40 year visitor to West Maui and have never experienced anything remotely like this. Otherwise just waiting to learn more.
One thing I don’t follow is how a fight that involved that many people got so out of hand at a resort that has security before anyone could stop it.
I’m going to wait until Maui Police finish the investigation before deciding what to think. Right now it feels like there are still too many missing pieces and something doesn’t add up in my mind no matter how hard I try.
We’ve stayed at the Alii four times over the years. This is shocking to read because it has always felt like such a peaceful place and we’ve never had any weird experience ever.