Family of slain man urges witnesses to come forward

By Star-Advertiser staff

POSTED: 12:08 p.m. HST, Oct 09, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 12:49 p.m. HST, Oct 09, 2012

The family of the 23-year-old Kapahulu man stabbed to death in an Ala Moana Shopping Center stairwell last week pleaded today for witnesses to come forward.

Brent “Keola” Kanae, “was a loving and trusting person who had many family and friends who loved him,” said Dale Kehau Kanae, his mother.

Keola Kanae had gone to the shopping center early last Wednesday afternoon so he could have lunch with friends before beginning his shift as a cook at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. He was found mortally wounded in a makai stairwell near California Pizza Kitchen about 3 p.m. on Oct. 3, 2012, police said.

The Kanae family had just returned from a trip to Disneyland the day before the tragedy, and Keola had wanted to meet up with friends to give them some souvenirs, his mother said.

The Kanaes held a press conference with the help of detectives on the front steps of the Honolulu Police Department headquarters on South Beretania Street this morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone. The public may also send anonymous texts and web tips by texting "CS808" plus a message to 274637, or CRIMES.

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kainalu wrote:

Our condolences to the Kanae ohana during this challenging time. Sad and horrific. The nature of the crime makes one believe that the attack was personal - multiple stab wounds to the chest, but given the evidence available on the ground, it could have been random, otherwise, a robbery gone bad. This is tough. I'm personally disappointed that in this day and age there isn't multiple security cameras in this area.

on October 9,2012 | 01:11PM

cojef wrote:

ACLU could be the stumbling block for that to occur, as it means forfeiting your privacy rights if cameras are indiscriminately installed. Privately, that may be possible, but in a shopping mall, which is considered as public space the rights of citizens are paramount. May be off base, but fear it would contested??

on October 9,2012 | 02:11PM

droid wrote:

Can you see the public sidewalk from this stairwell? Last time I checked, Ala Moana shopping center was private property and thus you tacitly agree to relinquish whatever “privacy” you had while on a public sidewalk. The only specific places where such privacy would be guaranteed would be a dressing room or restroom.

on October 9,2012 | 02:25PM

false wrote:

ACLU, go away, come again some other place - like Libya. When animals roam the shopping center extreme measures are called for, and protecting personal privacy is ridiculous. Who does it protect, shoplifters, pickpockets, abductors and now murderers. STOP the idiocy.

on October 9,2012 | 02:26PM

NanakuliBoss wrote:

Are you bloggers,false,cojef and droid all about hearing yourself put in your useless comments?

on October 9,2012 | 04:36PM

ejkorvette wrote:

Sincere Prayers to the Kanaes Family. I pray you will have Peace of Heart Soon. Come Together Hawaii Ohana, If someone saw something, Please, Please Say something to the Authorities. Mahalo.

on October 10,2012 | 12:55AM