A Kapahulu man suspected of fatally stabbing Brent Keola “Ola” Kanae at Ala Moana Center lived less than a mile from the victim.
Kanae, 23, was found unconscious and bleeding with three stab wounds in his chest in a open makai stairwell behind California Pizza Kitchen at about 3 p.m. Oct. 3.
Police arrested the 26-year-old suspect at 3:40 p.m. Thursday, two weeks after the murder, at the main police station on suspicion of second-degree murder. Detectives and prosecutors were working on charging the suspect Thursday night.
The two men may have known each other. One of Kanae’s friends, who was at Kanae’s Kapahulu house Thursday, said he vaguely knew the suspect.
A group of Kanae’s friends sat outside the house Thursday evening but would not comment on the arrest. Kanae’s family also declined to comment.
The suspect lives in an apartment on Campbell Avenue.
James Ong, 54, a neighbor who lives in an apartment below the suspect’s, said, “He goes dancing with the group.” He said that the suspect once showed him some lights he bought to wear while dancing.
As for the killing, Ong said, “I don’t think he has the guts to do that. He’s not a mean guy,” he said, adding, “He’s so skinny.”
Nickie Ong, owner of a small restaurant near the suspect’s home, said she knew him.
“He’s a very shy kid,” she said. “I don’t think he’s going to do that kind of thing.”
Kanae, a line cook at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., was well liked, and people said they couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to kill him.
Police said Kanae had gone to the shopping center before work and had lunch with friends.
The family had returned from Disneyland the day before, and Kanae wanted to give his friends some souvenirs, his mother, Dale Kehau Kanae, said at the news conference a week after the killing.
The stabbing happened in a stairwell used by employees at Bubba Gump and other restaurants to get to a smoking area.
A co-worker said that Kanae had a real talent for break dancing.
Shortly after his death, a YouTube video showed his friends dancing at Zanzabar to celebrate Kanae’s life.
Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu would not elaborate on why it took two weeks to find the suspect or what led to the arrest.
