Jury backs extended prison terms in Maui officer murder case

Jurors recommended extended prison terms Monday for Clembert Alii Kaneholani, who was convicted last week of first-degree murder in the Aug. 15, 2025, shooting death of Maui Police Department Officer Suzanne O.

The same 12-member jury that convicted Kaneholani, 39, returned special verdicts in Maui Circuit Court finding that extended terms of imprisonment were warranted for the protection of the public.

Judge Peter Cahill ordered a pre-sentence report and scheduled Kaneholani's sentencing for Dec. 18.

Kaneholani was found guilty Oct. 8 of first-degree murder, first-degree reckless endangering and multiple firearm-related offenses.

Officer O was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call about a trespasser who had fired gunshots at the property's caretaker at the old Paia Sugar Mill off Baldwin Avenue.

Kaneholani faces life in prison without the possibility of parole on the murder conviction. He also faces up to life with the possibility of parole for use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony and up to 40 additional years for the remaining three firearm-related convictions, according to the Maui County Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.

Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin said his office will seek the maximum sentence allowed by law.

In his argument to jurors Monday, Martin said extended imprisonment was necessary to protect the public, pointing to Kaneholani's possession of firearms, his efforts to sell firearms to others and statements he made during recorded jailhouse telephone conversations.

Martin also noted that Kaneholani possessed an illegal 27-round extended magazine for a pistol during the shooting.

Martin also recounted Kaneholani's confrontation with the caretaker at the sugar mill on Aug. 15, 2025, in which Kaneholani threatened and fired shots at the caretaker after being confronted for trespassing on the property.

The prosecution also pointed to jailhouse conversations after Kaneholani's arrest. Martin said that in an Aug. 30, 2025, conversation, Kaneholani said his hands were already dirty and would get dirtier if people continued to interfere with him.

Martin said that during a Sept. 2 telephone conversation, Kaneholani spoke about what he would do if released and said he planned to see the caretaker and "pop up at his crib."

Martin also reminded jurors of a jailhouse conversation in which Kaneholani said he was happy about what he had done and indicated that anyone "wearing blue" was his enemy.

"What stands out during those phone calls is he regales his family members of what he's done, how proud he is having murdered a police officer, laughing about it," Martin said.

Addressing jurors, Martin said the question was whether extended terms were necessary for the protection of the public.

"His own words answer the question," Martin said. "The answer is 'yes.'"

Defense attorney Zachary Raidmae argued against extended terms, saying Kaneholani did not mean statements he made during the jailhouse telephone conversations and that inmates frequently posture and talk tough.

Raidmae argued that Kaneholani's past actions did not establish that he would remain a danger in the future.

"People change with time," Raidmae said. "He's going to grow and he's going to be able to change."

The jury ultimately found that extended terms were warranted for the protection of the public. The four-week trial concluded Oct. 8 with Kaneholani's conviction on all counts.

Martin also thanked the jurors for their service.

"The evidence in this case was extremely difficult for them to experience, and their commitment to reaching a just verdict is deeply appreciated," Martin said. "While this verdict cannot heal the grief and pain felt by Officer O's family, friends, colleagues and loved ones, we hope that it brings some sense of justice for them."

Martin expressed gratitude for the law enforcement officers who helped investigate and prosecute the case, including Dan Hoffman and Samantha Karner with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lance Sullivan with the FBI and MPD's Criminal Investigation Division.

The case was prosecuted by Martin and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chad Kumagai, assisted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Mica Metter, Johann Smith and Amanda Bettinelli.