Neighbours intervened to help a 24-year-old woman escape an attempted kidnapping in Honolulu after a man allegedly tried to carry her towards a truck outside a condominium building.
The incident occurred at about 12.11pm local time on Monday 26 October 2026 near the Kainalu condominium building on Coconut Avenue in the Diamond Head area of Hawaii’s capital. Security camera footage of the confrontation has been broadcast by US news organisations.
What happened outside the condominium
According to Honolulu police accounts reported by local broadcasters, a man followed two women, aged 24 and 77, into an underground garage. The older woman said he then chased her younger friend, grabbed her and attempted to carry her towards a vehicle.
The 77-year-old said the man struck her in the face as she tried to protect her friend. Both women cried out for help while the younger woman struggled to get free.
Neighbours intervene
Several people nearby responded to the disturbance. Local resident Scott Morison told KHON2 he moved towards the truck and tried to obstruct its passenger side as other neighbours approached. He said the man released the woman as more people arrived.
Other witnesses described shouting at the attacker to let her go and telling him police had been called. The woman escaped, and the man left the area in his vehicle.
KHON2 reported that both women were physically okay but had been left badly shaken by the incident, with the older woman describing nightmares afterwards.
Suspect charged after arrest
Police said they identified and arrested a suspect at approximately 2.39pm that afternoon near 22nd Avenue and Diamond Head Road, without further incident.
Hawaii News Now identified the accused from arrest records as Diesel Makanikaiaulu Kawelo, 23. The broadcaster reported on Wednesday 28 October that he had been charged in connection with the attempted kidnapping and that bail was set at US$500,000.
The charge is an allegation, not a conviction. The suspect’s motive has not been established in the reporting available at the time of writing.
Surveillance footage and local reporting
The incident was captured by nearby security cameras. NBC News has published footage and interviews in the video below. Some viewers may find the images distressing.
