What started as a large fight at a Hopaka Street business on Sunday evening ended with two young men in the hospital and Honolulu police treating the case as an attempted murder investigation.
District 1 patrol officers arrived to find chaos, with patrons running from the scene and reports of more gunfire outside the establishment. A 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to an area hospital for treatment. Detectives have opened an active investigation into the shootings.
What police say
According to the Honolulu Police Department, District 1 officers were called to a report of a large fight at a business on Hopaka Street when gunshots were fired during the disturbance. As people fled, some reported hearing additional shots outside.
The post states that two males were hit by gunfire during the incident. Detectives are described as "actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shootings," and the department has not publicly discussed any possible motive.
Where it happened
Hopaka Street cuts through the Kakaʻako and Ward corridor near Kapiolani Boulevard and Piikoi Street, an area packed with mixed retail spots and nightlife venues, according to state planning maps. State planning documents list Hopaka as part of that broader zone.
This latest incident comes on the heels of other gun-related disturbances in the wider Kakaʻako area this spring. In an earlier case, the Honolulu Police Department reported another large fight near Ilaniwai Street and Ward Avenue that also escalated to gunfire.
Police response and how to help
In its Facebook update, the department said the two wounded men, ages 23 and 24, were taken to a nearby hospital. HPD did not announce any arrests, according to the Honolulu Police Department.
Investigators are asking anyone who saw what happened or who has video or photos from the scene to contact 911 or CrimeStoppers Honolulu at (808) 955-8300. Tips can be submitted anonymously through CrimeStoppers, a tool the department regularly relies on in violent crime cases. Police have urged potential witnesses to preserve any footage and be ready to work with detectives for follow-up.
What happens next
As detectives continue to collect evidence and interview witnesses, any criminal charges will ultimately be determined by the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, which is standard procedure in HPD investigations.
In previous updates about gunfire in the Kakaʻako area, HPD has said it would seek charges with the prosecuting attorney once suspects are identified and enough evidence is developed. For now, investigators have not released additional details about the victims' conditions or any possible suspect descriptions as of the department's latest public post.
