HONOLULU (AP) — A Native Hawaiian man who was convicted of a hate crime against a white man must be re-sentenced, a U.S. appeals court ruled Thursday, and the result could be several more years in prison.

Kaulana Alo-Kaonohi was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in 2023 by a judge in Honolulu after a jury found him and another Native Hawaiian man guilty.

The jury found that Alo-Kaonohi and Levi Aki Jr. were motivated by Christopher Kunzelman’s race when they punched, kicked and used a shovel to beat him in 2014 for trying to move into their remote Maui village.

Alo-Kaonohi appealed the conviction, and prosecutors cross-appealed, challenging the judge’s conclusion that he could not apply the hate crime enhancement to the sentence.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel also ruled Thursday to affirm Alo-Kaonohi’s conviction.

It was unclear exactly how much more time Alo-Kaonohi could get, but based on sentencing guidelines and the judge’s previous sentence, it could be up to three additional years, said Alexander Silvert, a retired federal defender in Honolulu who was not involved in the case.

Alo-Kaonohi’s attorneys and prosecutors did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the ruling.

Aki’s appeal, along with prosecutors’ cross-appeal of Aki’s sentence of about four years, were voluntarily dismissed, according to court records.

Kunzelman’s wife, Lori Kunzelman, told AP Thursday that she is glad prosecutors pushed for a lengthier sentence.

The Kunzelmans purchased a dilapidated, oceanfront house there sight-unseen for $175,000 because they wanted to leave Arizona after Lori Kunzelman’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

“We had vacationed on Maui year after year — loved, loved, loved Maui,” she said, adding that they saw the home as an affordable opportunity that her husband could fix up.

She said the beating of her husband “destroyed my marriage” and his brain injuries led them to go through a divorce. She said her husband was traveling in Europe and unavailable to comment on the ruling.

They still own the property, she said, and do not know what to do with it. “The families there won’t allow anybody to step foot on that property,” she said. “There’s so much animosity.”

The case highlighted struggles between Native Hawaiians who are adamant about not having their culture erased and people who move to the islands without knowing or considering its history and nuanced racial dynamics.

Central to the case was the use of the word, “haole,” a Hawaiian word with meanings that include foreigner and white person. Dennis Kunzelman testified that the men called him “haole” in a derogatory way.

Attorneys for Aki and Alo-Kaonohi said it was not Kunzelman’s race that provoked them but his entitled and disrespectful attitude.

The Hawaii Innocence Project plans to take up the case, according to Kenneth Lawson, the organization’s co-director. It intends to argue that an ineffective defense did not present for the jury the history of the word “haole” in Hawaii and show it is not a derogatory term.

“I just don’t believe that it’s a hate crime,” Lawson said.

He also said the defense should have called as witnesses white, non-Hawaiian residents who would have testified that they lived in the village without any racial problems.

Witnessing the magnificent Nāpali Coast is an unforgettable experience and often a bucket-list experience for travelers. And there are only three ways to see the towering cliffs on Kauaʻi: By hiking along the beautiful but strenuous Kalalau trail, by flying in a helicopter, or by voyaging on a boat. For those choosing to take a boat tour, you can dive into the crystal-clear waters along the green bluffs, explore sea cliffs and stop at secluded beaches. 

As you plan your grand adventure to see the jaw-dropping beauty of Kauaʻi, these are the best Nāpali Coast tour companies in 2025, according to HAWAIʻI Magazine readers.  

READ MORE: 9 Must-Do Bucket-List Items for Your Next Hawaiʻi Vacation 

1. Blue Dolphin Charters

This family-owned and operated charter company on Kauaʻi has been offering a variety of boat tours along the Nāpali Coast for more than 40 years. From snorkeling excursions and raft adventures to seasonal whale-watching experiences and sunset dinner cruises, Blue Dolphin Charters is known for its variety of tours to the Nāpali Coast.

Port Allen Marina Center, 4353 Waialo Road, 7B ʻEleʻele, bluedolphinkauai.com.

2. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures

Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures has been taking travelers to see the iconic cliffs of the Nāpali Coast for decades.
Photo: Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures

Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures has been taking travelers to see the iconic cliffs of the Nāpali Coast for decades. The seasoned tour company offers different charters to suite your adventure style. Whether you’re interested in an epic raft expedition, snorkeling paired with a barbecue lunch, or a romantic sunset sail along the dramatic coast, Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures is a favorite for Nāpali Coast tours. 

4353 Waialo Road #2B, ʻEleʻele, napali.com. 

3. Holo Holo Charters 

Since 1997, Holo Holo Charters has been a popular tour company on Kauaʻi among adventurous travelers. The charter company leads excursions to the island’s 4,000-foot emerald cliffs, sea caves, secluded beaches as well as remote locations like Lehua Crater off Niʻihau. 

4353 Waialo Road, #5a ʻEleʻele, holoholokauaiboattours.com.

4. Kauaʻi Sea Tours 

This family-owned business has been sharing the beauty and history of Kauaʻi for more than 30 years. Kauaʻi Sea Tours stands out thanks to its special permits allowing the charter company to lead tours of Nuʻalolo Kai, an ancient Hawaiian fishing village. 

4353 Waialo Road, ʻEleʻele, kauaiseatours.com. 

See all of the winners of our 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards in our latest issue, which you can buy here. Better yet, subscribe and get HAWAIʻI Magazine delivered to right to your mailbox.   

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Strong easterly winds, especially during the daytime hours, will allow any fires that occur in leeward areas to spread quickly.

The winds have already prompted a WIND ADVISORY to be extended until 6 p.m. Tuesday for portions of Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe and Hawaii Island, where east winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and gusts to 50 miles per hour are possible.

No fire watches or warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service because critical fire weather conditions have not been reached. However, your weather team believes that dry brush in leeward areas that are in drought, combined with gusty winds, will increase the threat for dangerous fire conditions.

Trade winds are expected to weaken slightly during the back half of this week and the weekend. Windward and mauka showers are expected throughout the rest of this week. Leeward regions will remain mostly dry.

The next small, long-period south swell is expected to arrive late Tuesday.

Surf along east-facing shores will be rough and choppy throughout the next few days.

Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins has Hawaii’s most accurate First Alert Forecast every weeknight at 5, 5:30, 6, 9 and 10. Get weather updates every ten minutes on HNN Sunrise, weekdays with Guy Hagi and weekends with Billy V. Meteorologist Drew Davis has your forecasts on This is Now at noon, First at Four and Hawaii News Now at 6:30. And join Ben Gutierrez weekends.

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