Suspect identified in early-morning Nanakuli shootout

A 53-year-old man was killed and a Honolulu police officer was injured in a shootout in Nanakuli early today.

A source identified him as Gavalynn Mahuka.

Officers arrived at 89-555 Mokiawe Street at about 8:25 p.m. Wednesday to serve a suspect identified as Mahuka with a temporary restraining order. Police said he was armed and barricaded himself in the home.

A nearby resident who declined to give her name said she heard police last night yell “he has a gun!”

“There was a lot of commotion,” she said adding officers told her and her family to stay indoors.

The Honolulu Police Department’s Specialized Services Division responded. Officers spoke to Mahuka via speakers throughout the night in an attempt to negotiate with him to surrender.

At about 4:15 a.m., police said Mahuka exited the home and fired shots at officers. One officer sustained a gunshot wound to his leg, while other officers returned fire. Mahuka was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the source, Mahuka shot at officers with a shotgun that was not registered to him.

Another resident, who did not disclose his name, said he first heard about four gunshots. Immediately after, he heard multiple shots, about 10 to 15 shots.

During the shootout, the resident said he and his family member “hit the ground” while they were inside their home and heard officers yell “get down, get down!”

Emergency Medical Services treated the wounded 47-year-old officer and transported him in serious condition to Queen’s Medical Center. In addition, paramedics treated a woman in her 50s for an undisclosed “medical case” at the scene and transported her to a hospital.

Police temporarily closed Mokiawe Street between Opuhe and Palikea streets and Opuhe Street at Haleakala Avenue to investigate.

Mahuka’s criminal record which dates back to 1984 shows a history of violence.

Mahuka, also known as Gavalyn, Gabbie and Gabby, has a criminal record of 14 convictions, three of which are felonies. One of the felony convictions is for assault and the other two are for kidnapping.

His record also includes four convictions for misdemeanor abuse of a family or household member.

Approximately 16 hours prior to the shootout, Family Court Judge Brian Costa granted Mahuka’s sister-in-law a six-month temporary restraining order against Mahuka.

According to the petition, she alleged that Mahuka threatened to hit her on July 21. She also claimed he was in possession of a sawed off shotgun.

Mahuka and his sister-in-law resided in the same Mokiawe Street home.

In the court document, she alleged Mahuka also would intimidate her and others by putting knives throughout the house when he was under the influence of crystal methamphetamine.

In a separate case, a woman Mahuka had dated filed a petition for a protective order against Mahuka in 2011 after he physically abused her and threatened to kill her and her daughter.

She was granted a six-month temporary restraining order. Upon the expiration of the order, the victim was granted a 10-year protective order against Mahuka.