Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer James Keonaona was shot and killed by a prison escapee near the Honouliuli Internment Camp. The prisoner had been serving a murder sentence in the Oahu prison but had escaped in 1921. Officer Keonaona saw the man walk past his house in the morning as he walked to his outhouse. Seeing the man, he ran back inside, grabbed his gun, and confronted him. Upon being told he was under arrest, the man asked to smoke a cigarette and Officer Keonaona said he could. The man reached inside his shirt but instead pulled out a handgun and shot Officer Keonaona in the face, killing him instantly. Officer Keonaona's wife witnessed the shooting. The man fled but was arrested approximately two hours later. He was subsequently hanged at the prison on Oahu on October 26th, 1923.
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BO-US-HI-6A8FC069- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Keonaona served with the Honolulu Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Honolulu community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Keonaona.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer James K. Keonaona is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,784 officers honored here.
In HI, 31 of 64 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.4% of this state's fallen. That is 48.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Honolulu Police Department, 20 of 51 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James K. Keonaona's cause is highlighted.
How James K. Keonaona Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James K. Keonaona is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James K. Keonaona was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Honolulu Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
