Police chief, wife named in new lawsuit
STAR-ADVERTISER
Chief of Police Louis Kealoha and wife Katherine Kealoha.
Gerard Puana filed Wednesday a second civil complaint against his niece, city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, the wife of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, naming the chief and five Honolulu police officers.
The complaint for damages alleges Puana was wrongfully arrested, incarcerated and maliciously prosecuted, and was denied his constitutional rights in two criminal cases, in 2011 and 2013.
It further alleges racketeering activity by the defendants in their individual capacities. Puana claims those defendants entered his home, seized his property, conducted surveillance, mishandled evidence, and made false reports and statements.
The complaint outlines a tangle of intertwined events involving matters from an alleged mailbox theft case, a state civil lawsuit by Puana regarding Katherine Kealoha’s alleged wrongful use of funds from a reverse mortgage on her grandmother’s house, a criminal case involving Puana, and allegations she stole cash and items from his house. It also alleges she abused her position as deputy prosecutor.
In Puana’s previous civil case, a state jury found Puana liable for $658,787 to be paid to Kealoha, who was found not guilty of using money from a reverse mortgage she arranged on the house of her grandmother, who is Puana’s mother.
This new federal lawsuit also outlines some of the same allegations in the previous state civil case, which includes that reverse mortgage.
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Puana said he gave his niece $40,000 in 2007 to invest. When he asked if it could be used as down payment on a condominium, she said it was not enough.
Puana alleges she asked him to talk to her grandmother Florence Puana about the reverse mortgage, which could help him buy his condo and help the Kealohas consolidate their bills and refinance their property.
The complaint also alleges she set up a fraudulent trust document in her uncle’s name to get the reverse mortgage, and the funds were deposited into her account.
Much of this latest complaint stems from a June 27, 2011, incident in which Puana alleges Katherine Kealoha removed from his home $15,000 in cash, a cap gun, two knives and other items.
He claims his house was locked, but Kealoha “unlawfully entered the premises” with the help of defendants Minh-Hung “Bobby” Nguyen and Daniel Sellers, who are police officers.
Puana had been arrested earlier in the day for allegedly stepping into a neighbor’s house during an argument, which led to a charge of unauthorized entry into a dwelling.
Puana alleges he was incarcerated for 72 days while Kealoha allegedly falsely represented to family members that his arrest was related to a drug problem and told them not to bail him out because she would take care of everything.
When Puana told his son to retrieve $15,000 from his home to post bail, the money was missing.
Puana alleges Kealoha used her position as deputy prosecutor to keep him incarcerated in order to meet with him to convince him to enter a drug treatment program, although he said he did not have a drug problem, and promised a favorable outcome. So he pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2011.
Puana’s state civil case against Kealoha erupted in April 2013.
Then two months later, on June 22, 2013, Kealoha called 911 to report the couple’s mailbox was stolen, and police were sent. Kealoha identified Puana in the surveillance video of the alleged theft a week later.
Puana alleges the Kealohas lied and deliberately made misrepresentations during the mailbox investigation.
The federal complaint also alleges misconduct by HPD officers for failure to properly document events, handle evidence and prepare accurate reports, and that officers were following him.
Nguyen, Sellers, Walter Calistro, Dru Akagi and Niall Silva are named in the complaint among the police officers who mishandled evidence, falsified reports, and failed to properly investigate the mailbox case to ensure Puana would be prosecuted.
The complaint says Chief Kealoha deliberately gave perjured testimony, causing a mistrial in Puana’s mailbox theft trial. The theft case was dismissed Dec. 16, 2014.
Puana’s federal public defender said in April that a federal grand jury was investigating both Kealohas, focusing on the June 2011 incident, but no indictment has been made.
Katherine Kealoha could not be reached for comment. Louis Kealoha declined to comment.
58 responses to “Police chief, wife named in new lawsuit”
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With or without the lawsuits, these two bureaucrats should have resigned from their positions long ago esp. Police Chief’s wife who has been so incompetent as a deputy prosecutor and how can one have faith in the police department when their own chief lacks character, integrity, and responsibility. Both individuals have no shame and makes a mockery and travesty of the process.
Well said Hossana.
I agree, and take Kaneshiro with them
Shame on them with all the money they make, they have to Squeeze their Grandmother ! Live with in you means !
Agree..They are the couple from Hell. Their illegal and immoral behavior aside, neither is competent to do the well-paid jobs they have. The chief is responsible for the alarming deterioration of the integrity, competence and reputation of HPD. He needs to have been replaced years ago.
Who is this allie?
paradisetax, we all would love to know who allie really is. Some say allie is a guy on the mainland but allie claims to be some scholar transplant from North Dakota.
Absolutely right Hossana.
Oh give me a break.
“In Puana’s previous civil case, a state jury found Puana liable for $658,787 to be paid to Kealoha, who was found not guilty of using money from a reverse mortgage she arranged on the house of her grandmother, who is Puana’s mother.”
In Puana’s first civil case that HE filed against the Kealoha’s, he ended up losing and he had to pay the Kealoha’s $658,787.
He’s just trying to seek revenge. Puana should let it go and stop trying to tarnish the Kealoha’s name.
Oh the tangle web they’ve weaved….
Puana seems like a deadbeat to me, trying to harass the police chief and wife to get an out of court settlement.
Absolutely, resign already. This is an embarassment to the good people of Hawaii nei.
Noticed that the Federal case went “crickets”?…Notice the Police Commission went zzzzzz……Ever seen Puana on TV? Sunglasses,buffed,aloha shirt action. Bugga look like one hood. Convicted felon. Yeah. Another crickety in the making. Chief Kealoha is running a tight ship. No killing of unarmed 73 year old men.
Just look at the pictures-both looks arogant as hell. And why is the taxpayers paying for their defense? They are guilty and should be thrown in jail-throw away the key
With the Federal investigation into the HPD and Kealoha, this suit has new life. The facts may support Puana afterall as the Federal investigation could reveal more about what happened and it could force truthful testimony by the Kealoha’s and their witnesses. But the Federal investigation also complicates things because the ongoing investigation could prevent evidence from being obtained and the Kealoha’s may be able to stop the lawsuit at least temporarily because it interferes with their 5th amendment rights pertaining to the Federal investigation and also interferes with the investigation (this would be a position taken by the feds also).
Courage to fight back against the way Hawaii officials roll is on display by the attorney involved. We need more of this same spirit to roll back the way Hawaii official bullies roll based on the power their governmental positions appear to provide them. Is it a jury trial?
I read that Puana had to file because the statute of limitations was running out, and by the time the federal case ends, it would be too late. I assume his case can now be put on hold until the federal case is over, but at least he filed it on time.
Over a mailbox, These people have no shame. Just goes to show you what kind of idiots are left in charge over a 10.00 mailbox.
Family squabble over money erupts into a Federal investigation by the Justice Department? Must be serious or much ado over nothing but hurt prides? Civil rights violation erupts into full blown airing of family’s dirty linen? No shame!
At this point there are only allegations, and allegations are simple to make. Even if proven wrong, like the first case, the damage to reputation is already done.
The only concrete result in this saga, so far, is the State jury verdict that Kealoha was not guilty and awarding money damages which includes, I believe, attorney fees which show Puana’s bad faith in filing the law suit in the first place.
As for the federal grand jury, how much longer are the proceedings going to last before they come to a conclusion? After convening for so long (1 year already?), for the grand jury to not come back with an indictment would be extremely embarrassing to the feds, so you can surmise there might be extra motivation by the feds to save face. After all, this isn’t international finance or rocket science.
The unasked question is “Who has an axe to grind here”? Seems like someone, in addition to Puana, might have a personal vendetta against the Kealohas.
Some policemen, ones on the “outside “. Federal case just got more complicated when one of their witnesses crashed his car and claimed he does not know who was driving. His credibility will get torpedoed on the stand.
What’s most hilarious in this entire fiasco is WE THE TAXPAYERS have shelled out over $1-million dollars towards this circus when you also factor in all the staff from multiple useless government departments involved wasting resources over a ridiculous family squabble.
FIRE ALL OF THEM and outsource ALL the WHITE COLLAR government jobs to India and Asia already!
Don’t you know who gave the information for this article? It is likely the plaintiff. That is one of the strategies or the lawyers, to get public opinion on their side, and it works. Chief and wife could be totally innocent but guilty in the public eye. If you had a family who got sued and was innocent, the legal process will drain you, doubt you and sometimes kill you. I feel for any public servant who had to call some tough shots, gosh we are all human.
Katherine, your husband has a post below yours. You have a lot of free time.
Look in the mirror sista
A lot of complaints from Uncle Puana — but none seem to have held up in past court actions. The complaint by the Kealohas about the mailbox theft was backed up by a surveillance camera. The nature and sheer number of Puana’s complaints suggest that the Kealohas may be the victims of good intentions gone awry. The silence of the Kealohas also suggests that they are respectful of their kupuna and wish to minimize any negativity that might befall him. Photos I’ve seen of Puana suggest that he is a good and gentle person. I’m guessing that the Kealohas tried to help him but Puana is blaming them for certain outcomes. All in all, this seems to be a family issue between good people that should be handled within the ‘ohana and not in the courts. Hopefully someone in the family or a close friend will step forward to initiate the ho’oponopono process. Very best wishes to the entire family for a quick and peaceful resolution in a time of year that’s devoted to forgiveness.
Hey Chief, aren’t you supposed to be at work?
Aloha nalogirl. No, I’m not a “chief.” I’m also neither related to nor associated with the Kealohas. Just a citizen, like you, concerned about fair play for everyone. You and others seem to be satisfied with the available “evidence” and judge the Kealohas guilty. That’s your privilege in our democracy. I and others feel there’s not enough evidence to sustain a judgment at this time. Thus, until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, we feel that the Kealohas are innocent. If you are ever, heaven forbid, accused of a crime that you did not commit, which citizens would you like to see in the jury box?
The alleged mailbox theft was a bunch of baloney. Why would anyone steal a whole mailbox when they could have just taken its contents? And why steal it that early in the morning when it was bound to be empty?
This is what I’ve been wondering, too ever since the “crime” video was first shown on the news. Why would anyone steal the WHOLE mailbox, and it looked like a fairly large one at that! In addition, it also looked like it came off pretty easily as if someone took off any bolts holding it to the post.
Toad, try to think. If he stole the mail, no one in the house would know. The purpose was to steal the mail box was to fak with the house owner. Get it. No monetary value, no stolen mail, just to fak with the occupants.
She crossed the line when she stole from Granny. She can steal from her parents but not her Uncles or Aunts.
Although I’d like to go along with blaming the powers to be, the article could also reveal an angry and disturbed relative. After all, didn’t a state jury find “Puana liable for $658,787”? And who steals $15 grand and a “cap gun”? And didn’t Puana step into his neighbor’s house during an argument? And maybe he did have a drug problem; plenty people with a drug problem refuse to admit it. Just saying, as an outsider I’m leaning toward corruption and police abuse (a sweet story), especially when the police chief is married to one of “his” prosecutors, but the evidence also suggests a family squabble with an out-of-control relative who is taking advantage of his relatives in high profile jobs. Unlike the poster that cited the photos as “arrogant,” I see the prosecutor’s expression as “concerned”or “serious” and the chief, maybe, as “angry,” or “determined.” If you want arrogant, take a look at some of the photos of Billie Kenoi that have been used, making him guilty. Can’t wait to find out the real story.
Just get rid of the Kealohas. This case has become a circus and is costing the taxpayers a ton of money.
Both Kealohas need to resign or be fired. These people are pilau.
agree. Hawaiians ripping off Hawaiians is an old story out here. Their arrogance toward Hawaiians is shocking.
W T F ????
Hawaiians???
Emmm, you smoking some North Dakota pipelines? Go home already, we don’t need another welfare recipient to care for after you complete the 13th grade in Chicano Studies.
no pick on Hawaiians, if dey corrupt or greedy, they learnt that from the white guys.
A Moke and a Tita.
Putnam delusional due to drugs ?
Puana………..even the spell check didn’t like the name .
The Distemper Duo. Simply frightening looking.
How much taxpayer monies are wasted when a entire family of ill individuals are hired? We need mental health evaluations and background checks for government workers.
That won’t work, the mental health examiner would be as nutty as the county union workers that strategically hired him/her. He’d/She’d likely give them a clean bill of mental health after telling them they’re perfectly sane according to the sworn testimony from the extraterrestrial aliens from South of the mainland border. LOL
I’ve encountered Chief Kealoha in person twice; once in the surf, once at a charity function. Both times, he was accompanied by HPD officers, and both times the vibe he gave off was “I own this place”. At the charity event, he marched his way in in-uniform and addressed the crowd with some crack about him not liking the negative press he was getting, which in the context of the charity event, was incredibly inappropriate, selfish, and classless. In the water, he and his HPD crew were hogging waves on their SUP’s and giving everyone “da eye”. Obviously, it left a less than positive impression, and I doubt he carries himself any different day to day. This is confirmed by family members who’re HPD employees. His and his wife’s arrogance and entitlement have put them where they belong … in a courtroom. Auwe to them both.
OK. Being a wave hog is the final straw. He should resign.
the point is the above-it-all attitude. you might have caught on if you had half a functioning brain.
I know an HPD retiree that used to be tight with him in patrol and lieutenant days. Emphasize USED to be. Power and politics got to da head.
You know what they say about how power corrupts, power corrupts absolutely. Just like the former KSBE Trustees who thought they were the new Kings and Queen of all Hawaii. You figure the husband and wife, one the police chief and the other second in charge in the City prosecutors office where the new rulers of Hawaii. Katherine probably channels the queen attitude of Lokelani Lindsey and in her mind justify all the laws they broke because to them, those laws don’t apply to the ruling class in Hawaii.
Netflix mini series.
I’d pay to see the mailbox get ripped out in slow motion in broad daylight! This stuff belongs on the Jerry Springer show.
Rail, Zoo, Sewage Spill, HFD safety, HPD/City Prosecutor fiasco…. I cannot believe we got four more years of Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
One thing for sure, this is a big messed up family. Shame !
And why hasen`t SA had any stories about the wife`s traffic ticket cover up`s of late?
These two should BOTH be removed from their jobs. Such CORRUPTION in this state. Sickening
“Wrongfully arrested, incarcerated and maliciously prosecuted…denied constitutional rights and racketeering.” That sure sounds like much of the HPD and the prosecutor’s office. There’s a judge who looked the other way allowing it too. It’s rampant. The system isn’t about justice. What goes around comes around is the real justice.
Future Mug Shots…