Maui animal lover killed in late-night assault while feeding stray cats

Alfred Kailihiwa, known locally for feeding roughly 700 stray cats each night, was attacked on August 6 while driving with his 73-year-old sister Valerie in Kahului, Maui. The confrontation began when Johnathan Koko-Kong, 31, Richard Kealoha-Kaauwai, 34, and an unidentified woman challenged the siblings over bright headlights used during their feeding routine. After Alfred sprayed the attackers with pepper spray and escaped, the trio followed the siblings to a nearby street corner and launched a violent assault just after 11 p.m., striking Alfred in the head, kicking him, and trying to seize Valerie’s vehicle and flashlight.

He was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and later died; Valerie suffered only minor injuries. Koko-Kong and Kealoha-Kaauwai have been charged with murder, robbery and assault and remain jailed without bail, while the female accomplice was released pending further investigation. The incident has spurred a community fundraiser that has already collected over $45,000 for the Kailihiwa family.