California visitors attacked on Kauai

Kauai police are looking for suspects in connection with an attack on two men and a teen from a Cali­for­nia school at Hana­lei Pier.

The victims — part of a group of 22 students and five chaperones from a private outdoor school — were assaulted May 30, according to police reports.

Police responded to a call at about 8 p.m. regarding an assault in progress, according to Kauai County spokes­woman Sarah Blane. The suspects reportedly fled the scene when they heard police sirens. No arrests have been made.

Blane said police are looking for two, possibly three suspects, who were apparently part of a larger group. Police have yet to verify the number of people involved in the incident.

“The core of the investigation is finding those two to three suspects,” Blane said. “We’re relying on the community at this point to come forward with more information.”

Tim Corcoran, one of the school group’s chaperones, requested anonymity for the school. He said the assault took place shortly after sunset at Hana­lei Pier.

As the group walked toward its four rental vans, a male, whose age was estimated at 17 or 18, called to one of the male students from a pickup truck. The student approached the truck, then walked away, returning to one of the vans after the suspect said or did something that bothered the student, said Corcoran in a phone interview.

The suspect then exited the truck and walked to the van, yelling and threatening the students, Corcoran said. He said the suspect lunged into the vehicle through an open door and struck the male student in his face.

Soon after, two to three more males arrived at the scene.

Police said Corcoran approached them and attempted to talk but was punched in the face. Another male chaperone, who attempted to do the same, was punched in the chest multiple times.

When a female chaperone attempted to intervene, the suspect who struck the teen spat in her face.

Corcoran said the ordeal lasted roughly 15 minutes. During that period the suspects’ group then grew to include about 20 people, including several who kicked one of the vans while students inside screamed and cried. Some of the suspects attempted to pull three girls from a van but let go when the girls screamed, he said.

“I literally thought we were going to die,” Corcoran said.

The school group attempted to leave the area but was allegedly blocked in by pickup trucks.

“The cops certainly saved us. If they didn’t show up, who knows what would’ve happened?”

The school group was visiting Kauai to celebrate its eighth-grade graduation, said Corcoran, who has been visiting the Garden Island for 35 years.

In an email statement, Police Chief Darryl Perry said, “The Kauai Police Department is doing all we can to investigate this case in hopes of holding these individuals accountable for their actions.”

Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call police at 241-1711.