Background
Joseph Kahahawai was born in rural Maui, 25 December 1909.
Joseph Kahahawai was born in rural Maui, 25 December 1909.
He was abducted and killed after he was freed by a mistrial. 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
He built up a positive reputation playing a number 38. Due to the Great Depression, Kahahawai never graduated and worked various jobs.
He also enlisted in the Territorial National Guard. Massie Trial
While Thomas Massie was questioning him in an attempt to obtain a rape confession, Kahahawai reportedly lunged at Massie, and Albert O. Jones shot him.
As a boxer, Kahahawai fought both professionally under the name Joe Kalani and as a member of the 298th Infantry Regiment.