Diesel Makanikaiaulu Kawelo, 23, was arrested and charged with kidnapping following a brazen afternoon abduction attempt in Honolulu on Monday at the Kainalu condominiums, an attack caught entirely on surveillance video.
Daylight Ambush at Kainalu Condominiums
Security footage from the complex shows a truck pulling up before a man walks into the garage, confronts two women, and gives chase. The suspect reportedly targeted a 24-year-old resident, physical testimony and police accounts show.
A 77-year-old resident who witnessed the assault described the suspect’s aggression. The older woman recounted how the attacker elbowed her in the face as she tried to intervene.
“He shoved me away from my friend and he picked her up,” she told reporters. “He looked like a monster. He just had so much hatred and craziness in his eyes.”
Neighbors Rally to Stop the Abduction
As the struggle escalated, the victim yelled for help, urging the attacker to stop while fighting to break free. Neighbor Beverly Louis heard the commotion from nearby and rushed to the scene. Louis recalled seeing the suspect bear-hugging the younger woman and dragging her toward the back of his truck.
“I just started screaming, ‘Drop her! Drop her! Drop her!’ ” Louis said, describing the victim as terrified and screaming for her life.
Another neighbor, Mike Finkelstein, joined the shouting match, yelling at the suspect to release the woman and warning that police had already been called. The collective intervention of the neighbors forced the attacker to abandon the attempt. The 24-year-old victim managed to break free, and the suspect fled the scene in his truck.
Police Arrest Naked Man in Honolulu Neighborhood
Honolulu police tracked down the vehicle and took Kawelo into custody a few hours later. Authorities noted that officers located him running naked in a nearby neighborhood.
Bail Set at Half a Million Dollars
Following the arrest, prosecutors charged Kawelo with kidnapping on Wednesday, and a judge set his bail at $500,000.
While the quick response from neighbors prevented a potential tragedy, the 77-year-old resident stated that she and her friend continue to suffer from nightmares as the neighborhood remains shaken by the daytime attack.
