Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer John Mahelona was shot and killed by a chicken thief on Buckle Lane, near the intersection of Liliha Street and Vineyard Boulevard. Officer Mahelona caught the thief and encountered two sons of a police captain before returning to a yard to look for other sacks the suspect reported were there. The police captain's sons went to assist the officer along with another citizen. After leading the officer and the citizen to a dark corner, the man shot Officer Mahelona. The citizen then captured him and held him until one of the sons took him and handed him over to other officers. The 41-year-old one arm suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 years hard labor. Buckle Lane no longer exists and was in the area of the 300 block of North Vineyard Street.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-HI-0249FC78- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Mahelona served with the Honolulu Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Honolulu community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Mahelona.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer John W. Mahelona 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 97,772 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. John W. Mahelona's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Mahelona Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Mahelona is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Mahelona was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Honolulu Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
