Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, are appealing the Honolulu Police Commission’s decision not to provide Louis Kealoha legal representation to defend himself against a federal lawsuit filed by his wife’s uncle.

The Kealohas filed their appeal Monday in state Circuit Court.

The commission denied Louis Kealoha’s request for legal representation last month. The commission did not respond to Katherine Kealoha’s request.

Katherine Kealoha’s uncle Gerard Puana is suing the Kealohas and five former and current members of the Honolulu Police Department over the same allegations contained in a federal indictment against the Kealohas and two of the five officers named in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit is on hold pending the outcome of the corresponding criminal charges, which are set to go to trial in March.

The officers named in both the criminal and civil cases are Minh-Hung “Bobby” Nguyen and Daniel Sellers. The Police Commission denied Nguyen’s request for legal representation and has yet to decide on Daniel Seller’s request. Nguyen is appealing.

Wahiawa man in crash in ‘extremely critical’ condition

Police said a 21-year-old Wahiawa man is in “extremely critical condition” after he was involved in a single-vehicle crash Sunday night in Waialua.

The man was traveling west on Kau­konahua Road near Hukilau Loop in a 2008 Nissan at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle and it struck a utility pole.