John W. Mahelona

Honolulu Police Department — Honolulu, HI

Felonious

End of Watch November 19, 1903

The Vigil Panel 19 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 50

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.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-HI-0249FC78
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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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

Department Honolulu Police Department

Location Honolulu, HI

Platform Identity hpd.honolulu.hi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1903

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Sentenced to 25 years

Officer John W. Mahelona is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 5.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Honolulu Police Department

of 51 officers

39.2% Felonious

HI — Statewide

of 64 officers

48.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious