Police search for suspect in Chinatown acid attack

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Honolulu Police Department is looking for a suspect who allegedly threw acid at a 30-year-old man in Chinatown on Friday night, the third acid attack on Oahu in the last two years.

The victim was severely burned and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The attack happened at around 10 p.m. near the intersection of Hotel and Smith streets. Witnesses reported seeing a man approach the victim and throw sulfuric acid in his face.

On Sunday, police described the suspect as an older man, about 6 feet tall with a large build. He was wearing a black durag, a gray short-sleeve shirt, light colored shorts, and blue athletic shoes.

The suspect also had a camera around his neck and was holding a red bottle.

“I’m actually stunned and shocked at this point, and the reason I’m stunned and shocked is because police have actually been doing a good job at patrolling the place now,” Chinatown neighborhood board member Ernest Carvalho said.

Two years ago, another man threw acid at a 20-year-old woman in Mililani, leaving her in serious condition.

A similar attack happened months later, when a 25-year-old Chinese teacher on an exchange program was also doused with acid.

Despite Friday’s incident, Carvalho feels Chinatown is becoming safer.

“If you look back 10 years, it was really bad. But if you look today, now, it’s gotten a lot better. I do feel safe, we’re cleaning it up and I tell people, ‘please come out to Chinatown. Visit our businesses, buy your food here, go out to our clubs, enjoy, cause it’s safe,” Carvalho added.

Area councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam also feels safety is improving in Chinatown.

“It’s obviously very scary for the community. I think this is a freak incident and I hope it doesn’t deter people from coming down and enjoying this historic neighborhood,” Dos Santos-Tam said.

Over recent years, the city began having police officers patrol on foot and installed dozens of security cameras throughout the area.

“Revitalizing Chinatown, making it safer, is sometimes a two steps forward, one step back thing and unfortunately, this is one of those things. But, we’re going to keep on trying, we really have to. This is a very special neighborhood and it deserves to be safe,” Dos Santos-Tam said.

Gabriel Lee of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii said, “It’s really disheartening to hear what happened, and we are looking to learn more from the police. One thing for sure, the Chinese Chamber will work together with the state, the city, and Chinatown merchants in keeping Chinatown safe.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or contact CrimeStoppers at (808) 955-8300 or via the P3 Tips app.

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