James K. Keonaona

Honolulu Police Department — Honolulu, HI

Felonious

End of Watch August 8, 1923

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 45 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 50

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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Permanent identifier: BO-US-HI-6A8FC069
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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 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

Department Honolulu Police Department

Location Honolulu, HI

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 8, 1923

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1923

Officer James K. Keonaona 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