HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A grand jury Friday charged two Maui men with a hate crime, stemming from a racially motivated attack back in 2014.
Kaulana Alo Kaonohi and Levi Aki Jr. were initially only given probation for allegedly harassing and attacking Chris Kunzelman and his Uncle when they attempted to move in to a new home in Kahakuloa Village.
[Read a previous report: Victim of Maui beating criticizes authorities for not pursuing hate crime charges]
In surveillance video, Kaonohi and Aki told the victims that, “It’s nothing personal, they just have the wrong color skin.”
Kunzelman suffered broken ribs and a huge gash when he was hit with a shovel.
If convicted, the two men face up to ten years in prison.
“Violence perpetrated towards others on the basis of race is an intolerable form of conduct that we must combat as a law enforcement community and a Nation. My office will do its part to protect the public by holding those who commit hate crimes accountable for their conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Kenji Price.
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