The uncle of the Honolulu police chief’s wife says she promised to pay off a reverse mortgage on his 95-year-old mother’s home.
Gerard Puana testified Tuesday in a civil trial for a lawsuit he filed against Chief Louis Kealoha’s wife, Katherine Kealoha. Puana and his mother accuse her of stealing money from them.
His mother obtained the reverse mortgage to buy him a condo. He says Katherine Kealoha stole money left over from the condo purchase and she stole money he gave her to invest.
Kealoha denies the allegations.
Kealoha’s attorney portrays Puana as a man with a checkered past who’s financially dependent on his mother.
The dispute led to police misconduct allegations in a case where charges were dropped against Puana, who was accused of stealing the Kealohas’ mailbox.