Atlanta family says attack in Kona was racially motivated

A Georgia family in Hawaii to fulfill a loved one’s dying wish says it ended in an assault that they believe was racially targeted. #HInews #HNN #Hawaii #HawaiiNews

[martina]

Jessica is naive making it seem that Hawaii isn't anything like what happened to the visitors from Atlanta. If Hawaii wasn't anything like that, then why is there violence in Hawaii and towards visitors? This isn't an isolated unique incident.

There is violence towards visitors and even people who live in Hawaii.

They visitors were foolish to go out to talk to the group of thieves. They should have called 911. Not that the cops would have done anything. The police and justice system in Hawaii is weak when protecting residents and visors.

[PaulBP]

Never approach the criminal element. Especially if your family is with you.

Immediately call the police and be ready to give accurate information.

[theeddiesshow]

Sadly, this is common on the Big Island. There is a serious racism problem here.

[Anna-xnds]

They are like that. My first day in Hawaii my young children and I were (unprovoked) screamed at, called Haoles by a crazy local woman on the bus, told to go back to the mainland, accussed of illegally stealing land, and threatened with a knife. It was so bad my 4 year old daughter asked an old white woman on the bus, "Why aren't you on the Mainland, Haole?" Now where did she pick that up from?

[jeremyshelton]

One of the most racist places In the world, sad but true.

[Seawolfaka]

I’ve lived in Hawaii since 1992 this kind of behavior goes on every day remember when you went to school here it was called kill haole day. I am currently going to court because a man decided to threaten me chase me 15 miles across the island telling me he’s going to shoot me kill me beat me up and the guy was so arrogant about it he didn’t realize I drove him straight to the police station he did not get arrested but he does have terroristic threatening charges put on him it’s been over nine months law-enforcement around here moves really slow I wonder why that is because I’m a white guy?

[deansaba]

"This is opposite of Aloha"
-Rick from Pawn Stars

[Peter-zbt]

As the old adage goes, nothing good occurs after Midnight.

[KaizenEnergyUS]

Yes they do.
Locals are the problem in Hawaii.

[Lovely]

Im black american and just visited Kona. No one was racist toward my family or me when i was alone

[berjaboy]

Why on Earth did the family go down and approach these thugs on their own? Your son was robbed, just call the police and let them handle it.

[johnthomasdesign]

Sad - same thing almost happened to me in Kona. Ignorant, violent people everywhere. Donʻt think Hawaii doesn't have its fair share of them.

[cyl]

Agree, " white boy" is not used here. Same as "mam", it would be "aunty". Something strange.

[Jkfa]

Oh my god im so sorry to hear that, 2:32 we just left king kamehameha last sunday morning july 30 we stayed there for 16 days that is scary i was very anxious while walking around the place, im always trying to make sure no ones following us, this pass saturday night we saw 3 teenagers got interrogated by police in the front driveway of the hotel. That being said that 3 young boys were sitting behind our beach lounge chair the afternoon later on that night we saw them being interrogated by police.

[carsonc]

Hawaii is the most racist state that I've been to... Hands down

[janemariesinger]

l am so sorry to hear this. I am not a native Hawaiian, yet i have always felt welcomed here. Please don't think this behavior is normal...it is NOT. who ever did this, is not following our Aloha spirit. I don't know if anyone has been arrested, or who they are, but I do not believe Hawaiians are responsible. Doesn't the Hotel have security cameras to capture footage of the perpetrators?

[pohoiki]

This seems fishy. Big Island people no use white boy as an insult.

[tedcormier]

Sad story. In a month I am staying at the King Kam for 5 nights then off to Waikoloa. I was told by an Uber driver in my last visit that there is much violence, fights stupidity in the town late at night past midnight and after the bars close. ...same as my home town in Canada or any other place.
Nothing good happens after 10:00 PM as the saying goes.
I never experienced hatred in my numerous trips to Hawaii and hope I never do.

[Lakesurfer]

I've been to Hawaii twice, once in the early 90's and once in 2019. Wonderful geography and climate. How ever, on both occasions I was called owly or however you say it more than once. Encountered greaseballs at the beach while body surfing and minding my own business. Verbal and physical threats. That was the 1st visit. Then in 2019 the first person we encountered at the airport was the cab driver. Wouldn't engage and I knew why, we were white tourists asking some basic questions regarding feral goats. There is an underlying bitterness towards the tourists by many native Hawaiians and I"m sorry they don't try and hide it. I've done a lot of traveling in hostile places, rougher than the islands. Unfortunately Hawaii has that same feel of bitterness and hatred towards others. The other hostile places I went to i expected it because they are not necessarily tourist orientated. However tourism is the backbone of Hawaiian industry not pineapples and over priced steaks. There's a lot of places to go on the planet rather than heading back to Hawaii again. Sorry this happened to these people, that only only came for a very sensitive family time but also dropped a wad into the Big Island economy. When we see tourists here in Canada we treat them as guests.There's one group here that gets a bad wrap, the humble loving none racist Hawaiians. We met those too and I don't want forget that group because they stay.

[shinlanten]

*_"We're not anything like that"_*

Ummm some are