KAILUA-KONA — A 63-year-old man was moved to a hospital on the mainland for further treatment after suffering a brutal beating at the hands of two men and a woman while working as a security guard at a Kailua-Kona hotel last month.
On Tuesday, John Kanui’s niece, Candi Hill Runn posted an update on a GoFundMe page about her uncle’s status. While she apologized that updates have been “few and vague,” she added it’s because the criminal case against the three individuals who allegedly attacked Kanui limit what they can and cannot disclose.
“As much as we would like to keep you all informed — making sure that justice is served to those people who tried to take my Uncle’s life is extremely important as well,” Runn stated. “We don’t want to jeopardize his case in any way!”
Kanui was hospitalized Sept. 17 after the security guard got into a reported altercation with Wesley Samoa, 30, of Kona, and Natisha Tautalatasi, 41, and Lama Lauvao, 30, both of Honolulu, at the Kona Seaside Resort off Palani Road.
Video surveillance of the incident shows Samoa, Tautalatasi and Lauvao along with a fourth person chatting outside the hotel when Kanui pulled up in a golf cart. After what appeared to be an exchange of words, the video shows the three suspects pull the security guard out of the cart and repeatedly kick and punch him in the head, back and stomach.
Samoa, Tautalatasi and Lauvao each face a single count of second-degree attempted murder. They each entered not guilty pleas in 3rd Circuit Court last month. Their jury trials have been scheduled for Jan. 29, 2019.
While Kanui was being treated at The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, Runn posted online Tuesday her uncle was safely transferred to an out-of-state hospital that specializes in spinal cord and traumatic brain injury. Despite her uncle now being treated at a state-of-the-art facility, Runn indicated he has been faced with “setback after setback.”
“He will have (to) under-go another critical surgery very soon and he is still not breathing on his own,” Runn stated in the post.
Runn created a fundraiser on GoFundMe on Sept. 29 to raise money for her uncle’s increasing medical bills. The community quickly responded. The campaign reached its initial $10,000 goal in just over a day. On Tuesday, the goal increased to $25,000. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, $18,165 had been raised.
Runn wrote their financial needs have grown.
“Because of Uncle’s most recent delay in recovery, we will face many new needs,” she stated.
The family has been taking turns flying/driving out to sit bedside with their loved one while he goes through this transition period.
“The costs of flight, gas, lodging, meals have been mounting and we are asking for a little more help,” Runn wrote. “Nothing little is to [sic] small ~ anything helps!!”
Runn thanked everyone who has contributed to their family’s cause.
“We are truly appreciative to each and every one of you ~ THANK YOU!!” she stated.
To contribute to the GoFundMe, visit https://www.gofundme.com/security-guard-help.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.