An incident that escalated at Maili Beach Park has left a local fisherman disturbed after being on the receiving end of what he believed to be a lethal threat. On Monday afternoon, Stanford Hokoana found himself staring down the barrel of what appeared to be a gun, following a confrontation about his fishing activities. The man holding the weapon was later identified as an off-duty deputy sheriff and was taken into custody on charges of second-degree terroristic threatening, as was confirmed in a statement obtained by KHON2.
The fisherman recounted how the deputy, without revealing his law enforcement status, brandished the weapon and threatened him if he didn't retreat, "He lift up his shirt and he grabbed a gun. He pulled it out and he told me if I no step back, he’s going to use it on top of me," Hokoana told KHON2. Police later determined the gun was actually a pepper ball gun, but in the moment, Hokoana believed it was a real firearm, an understandable mistake given recent shootings in West Oahu, this close encounter comes at a time when the community's sense of security is already fragile.
After the incident and subsequent reports made by witnesses, Honolulu Police Department officers apprehended the deputy, Dibiano Bontog 35 who, after posting a $100 bail, now awaits a court date set for September according to KITV. The Department of Law Enforcement confirmed the launch of an internal investigation surrounding the circumstances of the escalation, as the community's trust in those meant to uphold the law hangs in the balance pending the outcome.
In the meantime, the status of the deputy's badge and service weapon is unknown. Jordan Lowe, DLE director, told KHON2, "I can’t comment on that right now." Questions about the legality of net fishing at Maili Beach Park have been answered with a list of State-regulated fishing areas from DLNR, with Maili Beach Park notably absent. The dispute over fishing regulations seems minor compared to the broader implications of the event.
