Tourists Bloodied in Maui Resort Brawl After Being Called ‘Haole’

A family vacation at a luxury Maui resort turned violent when a group of locals attacked tourists with garden furniture, leaving multiple people injured and one victim requiring 13 stitches. The confrontation broke out on July 17 near the pool of the Kaanapali Alii resort, but details only emerged recently. According to witnesses, the trouble started when local individuals approached hotel guests and repeatedly used the Hawaiian term “haole,” which can carry a derogatory connotation when aimed at white visitors.

Joseph Hedfield, a member of the affected family, described one woman as the instigator. “She walked up to people and said, ‘Tonight we’re going to beat up your guys. We’re going to beat up the haole guys,’” he recalled. The threat was soon carried out as about 30 people joined the melee. Victims say the attackers wielded chairs and other furniture from the pool area. Between 10 and 15 tourists were struck, with Hedfield’s group among the most seriously harmed.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man shortly after the incident but released him without charges. Authorities are still searching for the suspected instigators, who remain unidentified. Investigators have stated they do not believe the brawl was motivated by racial hatred, though the use of “haole” has raised questions. The resort has not publicly commented on the incident, and the investigation continues.