HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The islandwide manhunt on New Year’s Day for a suspect who police say was armed with an unregistered AR-15-style rifle started about 7 a.m. with a shooting on the freeway and ended nearly 10 hours later with a firefight on a busy road.
Police say that’s when suspect Sidney Tafokitau, 44, opened fire on his ex-girlfriend. She was seriously injured and Tafokitau fled, kicking off an intense pursuit that ended with him dead.
Two officers were also shot in the final confrontation with Tafokitau at about 4 p.m.
Over the course of the day, Tafokitau would shoot at police at least four separate times in communities around the island. He also carjacked a victim in Windward Oahu at gunpoint.
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Former HPD deputy chief: Fatal chase violated police pursuit rules
But at no point during the day-long manhunt did HPD provide information to the public about what was happening or issue any specific warnings.
Additionally, despite multiple media requests, HPD has yet to provide much detail about Tafokitau’s crime spree. Through law enforcement sources and eyewitness accounts HNN Investigates put together a timeline of how the deadly manhunt unfolded.
Records show Sidney Tafokitau had been on the run since Dec. 16, after HPD says he shot one man and stabbed another during an argument on Rose Street in Kalihi.
The fugitive reemerged on HPD’s radar on New Year’s Day after police sources say he shot his ex-girlfriend on Moanalua Freeway. According to sources, Tafokitau and his ex-girlfriend got into an argument. When the woman drove off, the 44-year-old fugitive followed her.
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Then, about 7:15 a.m. the suspect opened fire on the 39-year-old victim with a rifle as she drove eastbound on the Moanalua Freeway, striking her multiple times.
The woman crashed near Exit 1A while the suspect took off.
About four hours later, law enforcement sources say officers with HPD’s Crime Reduction Unit spotted Tafokitau near Aala Park and followed the suspect in an unmarked vehicle to Kalihi.
At that point, the fugitive was said to have stopped his vehicle near Gulick Avenue and Stanley Street. Sources say when officers passed him, Tafokitau started following the police — and fired multiple shots at the officers as they attempted to flee.
An intense, islandwide manhunt for an armed suspect ended Monday afternoon with a police shootout on a busy Honolulu street.
Records obtained by HNN Investigates show that chase went from Wilcox Lane to Kopke Street to North King Street to Kalihi Street and onto the Likelike Highway where officers lost the suspect. Fifteen minutes later, at 11:45 a.m. the fugitive was involved in a crash in Kaneohe on Kahekili Highway near Hui Iwa Street.
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That’s where Erin Valentine says she was carjacked.
“He opened up the car door and just lifted up the gun straight to my face and just said, ‘Get out.’ And I just looked at him. That’s all he said,” Valentine told Hawaii News Now.
Two and a half hours later, around 2:15 p.m., officers spotted Tafokitau again on Alohea Avenue in Kaimuki. Police sources say that’s where the suspect made a U-turn and opened fire as he drove toward officers and then sped off, leaving them in pursuit.
From there, witnesses reported seeing police tail the suspect in communities across the island, all the way to the North Shore and back to town.
About 4 p.m., sources say the suspect opened fire on officers again near Kalani High School.
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About five minutes later, officers located the suspect near University Avenue and Dole Street.
That’s where law enforcement sources say Tafokitau got out of the stolen vehicle and started shooting at police. Two officers were hit. HPD confirms police returned fire, killing the fugitive.
Tafokitau’s ex-girlfriend is expected to survive.
At last check, the two officers who were shot remain hospitalized.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi visited them at the hospital on Tuesday.
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“Today our thoughts and prayers go out to the two heroic officers of the Honolulu Police Department who were severely injured in the line of duty,” he said. “I am relieved to share that both officers have undergone successful surgeries and are expected to recover.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
At UH Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
This column is by Pelehonuamea Harman, director of Native Hawaiian engagement at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. In her columns, Pele shares Native Hawaiian protocols on the use of ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), cultural traditions, traditional ways of Indigenous learning, and more. This column is on Mahina ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), celebrated every February to honor the Hawaiian language.Pelehonuamea Harman
Each year, the month of Pepeluali marks Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, a time dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the Hawaiian language. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
While Pepeluali gives us a focused moment of celebration, the Hawaiian language should not live only within a single month. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi thrives when it is used every day.
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One of the simplest and most meaningful ways to begin is by pronouncing the words we already encounter daily with accuracy and care. Hawaiian is an oral language carried through voice and relationship. When we take the time to say words correctly, we demonstrate respect for the language and for the poʻe (people) who have worked tirelessly to ensure its survival.
Across our own campus, we have opportunities to do this every day.
Let us honor the names of our places by using them fully:
An attendee at celebrations on May 6, 2023, takes a photo of the new Edith Kanakaʻole mural by artist Kamea Hadar. The mural is located at Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after beloved educator Aunty Edith, on the campus of UH Hilo. (Photo: UH System News)
Kanakaʻole Hall, not “K-Hall.” (Formally Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after our beloved kumu.)
Waiʻōlino, not “CoBE,” for our College of Business and Economics. (Formally Hānau ʻO Waiʻōlino; waiʻōlino literally means sparkling waters, alluding here to bringing forth waters of wellbeing and prosperity.)
These names are not merely labels for buildings. They carry ʻike (knowledge), history, and meaning. Speaking them in their entirety acknowledges the stories and values embedded within them.
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Using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi does not require fluency. It simply requires willingness. Each of us already knows words we can begin using more intentionally.
Greet one another with aloha.
Express gratitude with mahalo whenever possible.
Small choices like these help normalize Hawaiian language in our daily interactions and strengthen UH Hilo’s identity as a place grounded in Hawaiʻi.
One of the most common questions I am asked is: How do you respond in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi when someone says “mahalo” to you?
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Here are three simple and appropriate responses:
ʻAʻole pilikia — It’s no problem.
He mea iki — It is just a little thing.
Noʻu ka hauʻoli — The pleasure is mine.
There is no single correct answer. What matters most is participating in the exchange and allowing the language to live through conversation.
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Aerial view of the UH Hilo campus with Hilo Bay in the distance. UH Hilo’s commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed. (Archive photo)
UH Hilo holds a unique and important role as Hawaiʻi Island’s university. Our commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed.
You do not need to wait until you feel ready. You do not need to know many words. The language grows stronger each time it is spoken.
So during Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and throughout the entire year I encourage the UH Hilo ʻohana to:
Use the Hawaiian words you already know.
Pronounce names and places with intention and care.
Greet others with aloha.
Share mahalo often.
Because when we use ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, we are doing more than speaking words, we are helping to perpetuate and uplift the native language of our home.
E ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Let the Hawaiian language live.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Tread Rosenthal, Trevell Jordan and Louis Sakanoko put up a triple block against BYU Cougars Trevor Herget during Wednesday’s NCAA men’s volleyball match at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
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Kainoa Wade came on strong to lead another balanced Hawaii attack with 16 kills and the third-ranked Rainbow Warriors responded to a rare set loss in a big way to defeat No. 6 Brigham Young 27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18 tonight.
A Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 4,800, who showed up for a match scheduled just three weeks ago as a late addition to the schedule, saw Hawaii (13-1) drop the second set despite hitting .538.
UH had full command of the rest of the match and finished the night hitting .460 as a team. Louis Sakanoko added 15 kills, six digs and three aces and Adrien Roure had 14 kills in 24 swings.
Middle Travell Jordan posted a season-high seven kills in 11 swings with four blocks and Ofeck Hazan, who came into the match to start the third set, had four kills and two blocks.
Trent Moser had 18 kills to lead the Cougars (13-3), whose previous two losses came in five sets against No. 4 UC Irvine.
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UH’s loss in the second set was just its sixth of the season and third in its 13 wins. Hawaii has won 10 matches in a row.
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The two teams will play again on Friday night at 7.
