Honolulu police charge suspect accused in fatal shooting at illegal game room

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu police have charged the 25-year-old man accused of Wednesday night’s deadly shooting at a gambling operation on the edge of Waikiki.

Authorities said Kawika Kanakanui was charged Saturday with second-degree murder and three firearm offenses.

Officials said the shooting happened just after 10 p.m. in a row of businesses located behind the Convention Center near Aktinson Drive and Kona Street.

Police said Kanakanui is accused of fatally shooting 33-year-old Bryson Okada.

HPD said Okada was reportedly in a physical altercation with the suspect when Kanakanui allegedly shot him then fled the scene.

Kanakanui’s bail is set at $1 million.

Meanwhile, the city Prosecutor’s Office said Kanakanui was on probation for a 2021 drug case when he arrested in connection with the incident.

Prosecutors said they had asked the court to sentence Kawika Kanakanui to five years in prison for the drug case. But a judge instead sentenced him to four years probation and one year in jail.

Since the drug case was pending for nearly a year, officials said Kanakanui had credit for time already served when he pleaded no contest on April 28.

An investigation remains ongoing.

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