A California family has come forward alleging they were the victims of a racially motivated attack at a luxury resort in Maui, describing a chaotic poolside brawl in which chairs were hurled and family members ranging from teenagers to senior citizens were beaten. The incident occurred July 17 at the Kaanapali Alii resort in Lahaina, according to Maui police, who responded around 10 p.m. to a disorderly call involving approximately 30 people.
Police told Fox News Digital that when officers arrived, they found 10 to 15 people still gathered near the pool, several with visible injuries. The preliminary investigation identified seven victims from California, aged 17 to 62, who reported that a large group of juveniles assaulted multiple members of their party before fleeing. One victim told investigators he and his family were near the pool when an unknown male ran toward them asking for help. Moments later, several juvenile males allegedly chased that individual into the area before turning their attention to others nearby.
According to the police account, “The group allegedly began throwing chairs and physically assaulting numerous people in the area, indiscriminately attacking individuals of all ages, including elderly family members who were struck during the incident.” Family members told Hawaii News Now that the alleged attackers repeatedly threatened to “beat up the haole boys” before the violence erupted. The term “haole” is a Hawaiian word used to describe a foreigner or person of non-Hawaiian descent, as defined by Merriam-Webster.
The family told the outlet they want the assault investigated as a hate crime, though Maui police have not classified it as such. One of the most seriously injured victims was a relative who was struck in the head with a chair while trying to protect family members, suffering a severe head wound that required 13 staples, the family said. Police confirmed the investigation led to the arrest of a 20-year-old Makawao man on suspicion of second-degree assault. He was later released as the investigation continues. The case is currently classified as an assault and riot, and detectives have interviewed those involved while continuing to gather evidence.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Kaanapali Alii said the safety and well-being of its guests, residents and team members “remains our highest priority” and that resort security responded immediately after the violence broke out. “Upon learning of the altercation, our security team responded promptly, contacted the Maui Police Department and emergency medical services, and remained on scene to assist until first responders arrived,” the resort said. “We have provided surveillance footage and are cooperating fully with law enforcement as their investigation continues.”
The resort also noted it is conducting its own internal review of the incident. Addressing the family’s allegation that they were targeted because of their race, the resort cautioned against drawing conclusions before detectives complete their investigation. “We take allegations of this nature seriously,” the statement said. “At this time, allegations regarding motive or the circumstances surrounding the incident have not been substantiated, and it would be inappropriate to speculate or draw conclusions while the investigation remains ongoing.” The resort also acknowledged that staff received reports of threats, harassment and disruptive behavior involving individuals connected to the incident before the violence erupted, but declined to discuss those complaints further due to the active criminal investigation.
The property said it remains committed to supporting investigators and those affected by the violence. “Our focus remains on the well-being of our guests, residents and team members, and on assisting law enforcement in every way possible,” the statement said. Anyone with information or video related to the incident is asked to contact the Maui Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. The case highlights ongoing concerns about safety and racial tensions at resort destinations, even as the investigation continues to determine whether the attack will be prosecuted as a hate crime.