Honolulu police said on June 3, 2026, that three juveniles have been arrested in connection with a brutal May 30 mob attack at Waialee Beach on Oahu’s North Shore that left a 23-year-old lifeguard and a 15-year-old boy seriously injured. The lifeguard, Kekoa Tamale, says he stepped in to pull a family friend from a crowd and was beaten and nearly drowned before bystanders finally intervened. The attack, recorded on multiple phones and blasted across social media, has triggered a full-on police probe and a wave of outrage across the community.
The Honolulu Police Department said officers from District 4 and District 8 helped identify and arrest the three juvenile suspects, and that investigators added kidnapping and assault offenses after determining the victims were restrained during the beating, according to Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Police said they expect more arrests and that they plan to seek formal charges through the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.
Tamale, a 23-year-old Waimea Valley lifeguard, told Hawaii News Now he saw a group swarm a 15-year-old boy while people nearby watched, recorded and walked away instead of helping. He said he tackled one of the attackers to pull his family friend out, and that he later needed reconstructive surgery for a broken hand and a fractured eye socket. The teen, he added, was rushed to the emergency room with serious injuries.
Family members launched a fundraiser to help cover medical and legal bills. The organizer’s GoFundMe page shows roughly $90,200 raised for Tamale and the 15-year-old victim. The campaign description says both were “kicked and beaten unconscious and almost drowned” and notes that some attackers edited clips of the assault into a reel and posted it to TikTok, further inflaming public anger while also helping investigators identify suspects through social media posts, according to GoFundMe.
What police are asking the public
The Honolulu Police Department is urging anyone with video or information about the attack to call Crime Stoppers at 955-8300 or submit tips through the P3 Tips mobile app, as detectives sift through online posts and clips to identify everyone involved. Investigators say they are committed to tracking down all participants and have asked community members to share any additional footage to help back up witness statements, according to Hawaii News Now.
Charges and legal process
Police said kidnapping counts were added after investigators determined the victims had been restrained, and that prosecutors will review the case to decide on formal charges, Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Because the suspects are juveniles, authorities have released very little identifying information. The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney will determine whether the cases stay in Family Court or are transferred to the adult system, depending on the ages of the suspects and the evidence.
Family members and friends say both victims are recovering at home and are grateful for any information that helps hold the attackers accountable. Police maintain that more arrests are likely as detectives continue to review video and witness statements. Anyone with details is urged to contact HPD Crime Stoppers.
