Joseph Kahahawai

Joseph Kahahawai Jr.
Born (1909-12-25)25 December 1909
Maui, Hawaii
Died 8 January 1932(1932-01-08) (aged 22)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Cause of death Homicide (.32 ACP)
Resting place Puea Cemetery
Nationality American
Other names "Joe Kalani"
Occupation Boxer
Guardsman
Known for Rape suspect
Homicide victim
Criminal charge Rape
Criminal status Mistrial (Hung jury)
Parent(s) Joseph Kahahawai Sr.
Esther Anito

Joseph "Joe" Kahahawai Jr. (25 December 1909 – 8 January 1932) was a Native Hawaiian prizefighter accused of the rape of Thalia Massie. He was abducted and killed after he was freed following an inconclusive court case that ended with a hung jury mistrial.[1][2]

Early life

Joseph Kahahawai was born in rural Maui, 25 December 1909. His family moved to Honolulu and Kahahawai′s parents divorced. He lived with his mother, who later remarried, while Kahahawai remained in contact with his father. After elementary school, Kahahawai attended Saint Louis School through an athletic scholarship to play for the high school football team, building up a positive reputation. Due to the Great Depression, Kahahawai never graduated and worked various jobs. He also enlisted in the Territorial National Guard. As a boxer, Kahahawai fought both professionally under the name Joe Kalani and as a member of the 298th Infantry Regiment.[3]:99

Accusation of rape and subsequent trial

Abduction and murder

With a hung jury – stymied by conflicting evidence – resulting in a mistrial, Kahahawai was kidnapped by Thalia Massie's mother and husband, Grace Fortescue and Navy Lieutenant Thomas Massie respectively, and two Navy enlisted men, Albert O. Jones and Edward J. Lord.[1] While Thomas Massie was questioning him in an attempt to force a rape confession, Kahahawai reportedly lunged at Massie, and Jones shot him.[4]

Grave of Joseph Kahahawai Jr., at Puea Cemetery in Kalihi, Honolulu

Massie, Fortescue, Jones and Lord were charged with murder. The jury found them guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, and they were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. The white population, heavily weighted by the American citizens of Naval Station Pearl Harbor and the businesses supporting it, was enraged. Under pressure from Rear Admiral Yates Stirling, Jr., Commandant of the US Navy's 14th Naval District (including N.S. Pearl Harbor), and following threats that martial law might be imposed if the sentences were allowed to stand, Territorial Governor Lawrence M. Judd commuted the 10-year sentences of the convicted killers to one hour, to be served in his office.[4] The four convicted killers left Hawaii just days after sitting through their one hour sentence preventing the retrial of the four surviving defendants in the Massie rape case.

References

  1. 1 2 Stannard, David (2001-10-14). "The Massie case: Injustice and courage". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, HI, USA: Black Press. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  2. ↑ Linder, Douglas O. (2011-04-25). "The Massie Trials: A Chronology". Kansas City, MO, USA: University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law. Archived from the original on 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  3. ↑ Stannard, David (2006) [2005]. Honor killing. New York, NY, USA: Penguin Books. ISBN 9781440649219. OCLC 759838997, 648096412, 645891754.
  4. 1 2 "...A Sailor Confesses to Old Hawaii Killing". Life. Chicago: Time Inc. 61 (15): 49. 1966-10-07. ISSN 0024-3019. OCLC 561728384. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  • "HE PUA A HE EWA NO HAWAII" [A CHILD AND A NATIVE OF HAWAII]. Hoku o Hawaii (in Hawaiian and English). Honolulu, HI, USA: C.K. Notley. 25 (33): 3. 1932-01-19. LCCN sn84020565. OCLC 11135373. Archived from the original on 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2013-03-23. He has gone forever, but memories of him shall not be forgotten. A recounting of his death and funeral.
  • Joseph Kahahawai, Jr at Find a Grave
  • "Photograph of Joseph Kahahawai Funeral Procession". Seattle, WA, USA: Corbis. 1932-01-19. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
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