Press about Trafficking and Related Crimes in Hawaii
Search by Year
1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002
2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 - 2012
Through the years, the local press and a few national allies, have publicized some well-known cases. The unfortunate reality reveals that many more crimes against women and girls take place in Hawaii without notice by anyone.
P.A.S.S. hopes that more investigative stories revealing the underbelly of Hawaii trafficking/prostitution will be initiated by our local media- stories that focus on the growing problem of traffickers/pimps and "johns"/clients creating a dangerous facet to Hawaii's Tourist economy. (List of articles below following video).
1995
- Case Summary of Appeal Regarding Child Trafficker Lamar Duran "Mario" Baker aka "Michael Bernard" - 1997 (Arrested for trafficking a child from Canada to Seattle and Hawaii in 1995)
1997
- Kelly A. Hill Article on Sex-Trafficking/Prostituted Persons - Honolulu Star Bulletin - October 17th 1997
1999
- Rodney D. King (aka "Shadow" or "Special K") Pleads Guilty to Transporting a Child to a Waikiki Hotel Room for Prostitution - Honolulu Star Bulletin - April 15th 1999
2000
- Girls for Sale in Hawaii - Honolulu Star Bulletin - August 23rd 2000
2002
- Campaign Finance Figure, Lisa Katherine Kushi Otsuka, Faces Charges for Promoting Prostitution - Honolulu Star Bulletin - September 26th 2002
2003
- Niu Valley, Hawaii Resident Melvin Hamaguchi Selling Sex-Tours via Video Travel Website - Equality Now Website - November 4th 2003
2004
- Hawaii Legislation Links Sex Tourism and Trafficking - Equality Now Website - May 2004
- Lueleni Fetongi Maka, of Waipahu, Charged with Human Trafficking (Labor) - Honolulu Star Bulletin - November 12th 2004
- Lueleni Fetongi Maka, of Waipahu, Charged with Human Trafficking (Labor) - Honolulu Advertiser - November 13th 2004
2005
- Former Bank Executive David G. Zerfoss Benefits from High Court Ruling Making Federal Sentencing Guidelines Advisory But No Longer Mandatory; Gets 18 Months for Child Porn - Honolulu Star Bulletin - January 19th 2005
- Kil Soo Lee, Sentenced for Human Trafficking in American Samoa - Seattle Post Intelligencer - June 29th 2005
- Wan Yo "Hannah" Kang Indicted on 11 Felony Counts, Enticing Women into Prostitution - Honolulu Advertiser - October 20th 2005
- Wan Yo "Hannah" Kang Ward Avenue "Massage" Studio Raided by Police - Honolulu Advertiser - October 20th 2005
- Prostitution on Prospect Street - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - October 30th 2006
- Jason Smith aka "Tony Watkins" and Martez Djuan aka "Junior Martez" of Michigan Arrested for Forced Prostitution of a 15-Year Old Girl at a Local Hotel - Honolulu Advertiser - December 10th 2005
- Prosecutors Detail Abuse in Jason Smith/Martez Djuan Forced Prostitution Case of 15-Year Old - Honolulu Star Bulletin - December 9th 2005
- Federal Child Prostitution Sweep Involving Hawaii - Honolulu Star Bulletin - December 16th 2005
Robert Lewis Young "Blue Diamond"
- Robert Lewis Young aka "Blue Diamond" Trafficker/Pimp of Women and Children to and from Hawaii Arrested - Honolulu Star Bulletin - December 17th 2005
2006
- 27 People Arrested in Child Porn/Child Molestation Ring - MSNBC - March 15th 2006
Jubilee Lum, Unsolved Murder
- Unsolved Murder of Jubilee Lum - KHNL 8 NEWS - June 25th 2006
- Jody Spears Busted for Sex-Trafficking of Children from New York, Las Vegas, Honolulu - USA Today - July 26th 2006
- Robert Lewis Young aka "Blue Diamond" Prostitution/Sex-trafficking Ring - Honolulu Star Bulletin - July 31st 2006
2007
- Five Men Arrested in Patrons of Prostitution ("Johns") Sting. Five Arrested:
43-year old Glenn Agcaoili,
44-year old Kava Isaako,
44-year old Kevin DeCanto,
72-year old Tavita Kava, and
25-year oldBradley Macloves - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - March 22nd 2007
- 1 of 3 - Governor Lingle's Chief of Staff, Bob Awana, Mired in a Sex Scandal Quickly Quieted by Local Media - Maui Times - June 14th 2007
- 2 of 3 - More on Bob Awana's Case and the Details Behind Jullie Mae - Ian Lind's Blog - June 19th 2007
- 3 of 3 - Who Is Jullie Mae?
- Prostituted Persons Are Advertised on Craigslist - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - July 18th 2007
- Undercover "Johns" Sting in Chinatown. Four Arrested:
45-year old Thomas Laurel,
33-year old Aaron Kelii of Hawaii Kai,
30-year old Darrien Parker of University, and
31-year old Hector Herrera of Kapolei- KHON FOX T.V. 2- July 25th 2007
- Undercover Sting Targets "Johns." Six Arrested:
24-year old Jordan Febenito of Kalihi,
38-year old Timothy Greenleaf of Nuuanu,
25-year old Kahiwa McKeague of Palolo,
29-year old Leighton Uchimura of Manoa,
31-year old Ryan Yamasaki of Kaneohe, and
22-year old Ikaika Striker of Kalama Valley - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - August 17th 2007
- "Johns" Using Online Forum to Discuss Prostitution in Chinatown - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - October 22nd 2007
2008
-
Shengji Wang, Iona Uiagalelei (Former American Samoa Government Official), and Fu Sheng Kuo, Tried for Sex Trafficking Charges - Reuters - January 4th 2008
- Johnathan Payne and La Shawn Adams Arrested for Forcing 20-Year Old into Prostitution - KGMB CBS 9 News - January 15th 2008
Johnathan Payne and La Shawn Adams
- Johnathan Payne and La Shawn Adams Arrested for Forcing 20-Year Old into Prostitution - Honolulu Star Bulletin - January 21st 2008
- St. Louis High School Student Linked in Prostitution Bust - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - March 16th 2008
- Former Human Trafficking Victim Speaks Out (Maka Case, Labor) - KGMB CBS 9 News - May 3rd 2008
- Bronson Iseri Charged with First Degree Sexual Assault and Promoting Prostitution of a Minor - KITV 4 NEWS - August 26th 2008
Bronson Iseri
- Bronson Iseri Charged Used Internet to Force Minor Into Prostitution (Human Trafficking) - Honolulu Advertiser - August 26th 2008
- Stop Sex-Trafficking Showcase at Girl Fest Hawaii - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - November 12th 2008
Excerpt of "American Pimp" (1999 - Hughes Brothers) - Explicit Language Warning
Start Video at 2:39 on Timeline
- Some Ways How Pimp/Traffickers Manipulate
2009
- Educator Warns Teens of Prostitution - KGMB 9 NEWS - February 5th 2009
- Hawaii Teen Tells of the Trappings of Prostitution - KGMB 9 NEWS - February 6th 2009
- John Veikoso, 21, Charged with Kidnapping and Raping Two Prostituted Persons - Honolulu Star Bulletin - February 10th 2009
- Trafficker Arrested in Hawaii for Forcing Woman into Prostitution at 350 Ward Avenue, Same Address as the Wan Yo Kang 2005 Trafficking Arrest - Honolulu Advertiser - March 11th 2009
Joseph Faauga Vaimili
- Authorities Arrest Joseph Faauga Vaimili, 27, on Human Trafficking Charges - KITV 4 NEWS - March 13th 2009
Radio Australia Interview of Special Agent Brandon Simpson of the FBI Honolulu, Hawaii Division on Human Trafficking in Hawaii - Radio Australia - March 25th 2009
- State Representative Joe Bertram Defends Friend Sentenced for Arranging for Sex with a 14 Year Old Girl- Maui News - April 2nd 2009
- Anti-Prostitution Law Ruled Invalid - Honolulu Advertiser - May 3rd 2009
- Teen Forced into Prostitution - KHON FOX T.V. 2 - May 21st 2009
- Prostitution Ring Bust Involving Child Victim - KITV 4 NEWS - May 21st 2009
- Marcus Arrington, Anthony Fuller and Brad Y.K. Young Charged with Forcing a 16 Year Old Girl into Prostitution - Honolulu Advertiser - May 27th 2009
Marcus Arrington (left) and Anthony Fuller (right)
- Marcus Arrington Previously Released by Imprudent Judge Only to Run a Prostitution Ring While Free - Honolulu Star Bulletin - May 27th 2009
- Honolulu Couple, Rodney D. King and Sharon-Mae Nishimura, Indicted on Federal Charges for the Sex-Trafficking of Children and Adults - June 18th 2009 - U.S. Department of Justice Press Release
Rodney D. King aka "Shadow" or "Special K"
- Rodney D. King (aka "Shadow" or "Special K") Sentenced to a Meager 2 Years in 1999 for Promoting Prostition of a Minor, Only to End Up Trafficking More Women and Children After Released - Honolulu Advertiser - June 19th 2009
- Judges Give Human Trafficker Rodney D. King a Slap on the Wrist in the Past- Honolulu Star Bulletin - June 19th 2009
- Felix Thaxton of Honolulu Arrested for Raping a 13-year-old Girl to Force Her Into Prostitution - KITV 4 NEWS - July 1st 2009
- David G. Zerfoss, Former Executive for Bank of Hawaii and Central Pacific Bank, Arrested Again for Child Porn - Honolulu Advertiser - July 2nd 2009
- David G. Zerfoss Arrested Again by U.S. Marshals for Child Porn - Honolulu Star Bulletin - July 2nd 2009
- Felix Thaxton Charged with Rape and Promoting Prostitution of Hawaii Child - Honolulu Advertiser - July 7th 2009
- Video of John Veikoso, 22, of Waimanalo and Former Church Caretaker, in Court for Kidnapping and Rape of a Prostituted Person - KITV 4 NEWS - July 22nd 2009
John Veikoso
- John Veikoso in Court for Kidnapping and Raping a Prostituted Person from Downtown - Honolulu Advertiser - July 23rd 2009
- Charles Cocklin, Jr. Arrested for Forcing Woman into Prostitution in Waikiki - Honolulu Advertiser - August 1st 2009
Charles Cocklin, Jr.
- Charles Abraham Cocklin Jr. Faces Charges of Promoting Prostitution, Kidnapping and Assault (Human Trafficking) - Honolulu Star Bulletin - August 4th 2009
- Alec Souphone Sou and Mike Mankone Sou of Aloun Farm in Hawaii with Thai labor recruiter William Khoo federally indicted for conspiring to traffick 44 Thai nationals for slave labor - U.S. Department of Justice Press Release - August 28th 2009
Richard David Mitchell
- Richard David Mitchell, 61, from Kamuela, Hawaii Arrested for Performing Sex Acts Upon a 12 yr old Child in Cambodia - U.S. Department of Justice Press Release - September 9th 2009
Daniel G. Seguerre III
- Daniel G. Seguerre III from Hilo, Hawaii, Arrested for Raping Children and Making Child Porn - September 11th 2009 - KGMB 9 News
Rodney D. King aka "Shadow" or "Special K"
- Rodney D. King, Child Trafficker, Arrested in 1999 for Promoting Prostitution in the 1st Degree of a Minor, Freed to Face a Life Sentence in Federal Court for Sex-Trafficking of Minors Again - KHON 2 NEWS - September 24th 2009
- 15 yr-old Girl Kidnapped by a Pimp Still on the Loose, Raped in a Hotel - Honolulu Advertiser - September 30th 2009
- Two Radford High School Teachers, Jacob Henry Sur and Albert M. Hetrick Arrested for Soliciting Prostitution - KITV 4 NEWS - October 24th 2009
2010
Left to Right: Alec Sou and Mike Sou
- Alec & Mike Sou of Aloun Farms Plead Guilty to Labor Trafficking 44 Thai Nationals in Federal Court and Face an Extremely Lenient Sentence - KITV 4 NEWS - January 14th 2010
- Fred Quinton Collins, a Hawaii Man, Faces Minimum 10 Years to Life in Prison for Allegedly Trafficking a Child for Sex for the Super Bowl Weekend - U.S. Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida Press Release - February 9th 2010
Fred Quinton Collins
- Feds Arrest Hawaii Man (Fred Quinton Collins) in Florida for Child Sex Trafficking for the Super Bowl - Miami Herald - February 10th 2010
- Hawaii Man (Fred Quinton Collins) Charged with Sex Trafficking for Super Bowl - Hawaii News Now - KHNL & KGMB TV - February 10th 2010
- Parents and Advocates Fight for Sex-Trafficking Laws in Hawaii Amisdt Rash of Child Trafficking Cases- KHON TV NEWS - March 16th 2010
- Hawaii Man Rodney D. King aka "Shadow" Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Sex-Trafficking Women and Child - Honolulu Star Bulletin - May 25th 2010
Quardralis Jerod Watson
- Quadralis Jerod Watson aka "Danger" Federally Indicted for Sex-Trafficking a Child in Hawaii - Hawaii News Now - KHNL & KGMB TV - June 2010
Joseph Faauga Vaimili
- Joseph Vaimili Charged with Enslaving Woman for Prostitution Was a No Show for Trial - KITV 4 News - June 23rd 2010
- Sex-Trafficking Victim Testifies Against Joseph Vaimili - KHON 2 News - July 31st 2010
- Joseph Vaimili Found Guilty But Still On the Run - KHON 2 News - July 31st 2010
- Confessed Labor Traffickers, Alec and Mike Sou of Aloun Farms, Played the System, Got Federal Aid - KITV 4 News - July 26th 2010
- The Sous (Confessed Hawaii Labor Traffickers) Counting on Friends in High Places - Midweek - July 28th 2010
Officer Michael Tarmoun
- Honolulu Police Officer Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Prostituted Person - Hawaii News Now - August 5th 2010
Mukadin Daquan Gordon (both pics)
- Man in Honolulu, Mukadin Daquan Gordon, 27, Accused of Kidnapping a Child for Prostitution (Sex-Trafficking) - KHON TV2 - August 25th 2010
- Waikiki Man, Mukadin Daquan Gordon, Charged with Forcing a Child into Prostitution - Honolulu Star Advertiser - August 25th 2010
- Largest Human Trafficking Case in U.S. History Filed in Honolulu, Hawaii - Civil Beat - September 2nd 2010
Mordechai Orian
- Human Trafficking Suspect, Mordechai Orian, Surrenders in the Largest Labor Trafficking Case in U.S. History- Hawaii News Now - September 3rd 2010
- Alec & Mike Sou, Alleged Human-Traffickers of Aloun Farms, Change Their Minds and Withdraw Their Guilty Plea- Hawaii News Now - September 9th 2010
Child Trafficker Rodney D. King
- Child-Trafficker Rodney D. King Sentenced to 25 Years In Prison - KHON TV 2 News - September 30, 2010
www.civilbeat.com's investigative series
- Selling Sex in Honolulu- Police Arrest Women Not Men - www.civilbeat.com - November 22nd 2010
- Selling Sex in Honolulu- Police Focus on Locals not Sex-Tourists - www.civilbeat.com - November 22nd 2010
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Selling Sex in Honolulu- Unlicensed Massage Parlors (Alleged Brothels) - www.civilbeat.com - November 23rd 2010
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Selling Sex in Honolulu- The Sentencing - www.civilbeat.com - November 24th 2010
2011
- Sex-Trafficking in Paradise - Hawaii News Now Investigative Report - February 10th 2011
- State Capitol House Human Services Committee Special Informational Session & Hearing of HB576 (Anti Sex-Trafficking Bill) - February 17th 2011
- Sex-Trafficking Bill Passess House Human Services Committee - Hawaii Independent - February 17th 2011
- Sex-Trafficking Survivors Push for Law - Hawaii News Now - February 17th 2011
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The Usual Suspects Lobby Against Establishing Hawaii's Anti Sex-Trafficking State Law - www.civilbeat.com - February 18th 2011
- Rep. Gilbert Keith-Agaran (from Maui) Turns Away Abolitionists - Hawaii News Now Investigative Report - March 2nd 2011
- U.S. Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons says Hawaii Could Use a Human Trafficking Statute - www.civilbeat.com - March 7th 2011
- How Much Is Your Daughter Worth? Without Legislation, Hawaii Will Continue as a Hub for Sex Crimes - www.honoluluweekly.com - March 23rd 2011
- Giving Hawaii a Second Chance to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery (Op Ed by Brad Myles, Executive Director of Polaris Project) - www.civilbeat.com - March 28th 2011
- Two Hawaii Labor-Trafficking Bills Still Alive - www.civilbeat.com - March 29th 2011
- Coerced Prostitution and End Demand Bills Advance in the Senate - Hawaii Public Radio - April 4th 2011
- Hawaii Human-Trafficking Bills Headed to Conference - Hawaii Independent - April 15th 2011
- In Nine Months, Police Dept. Arrests Just One Pimp - www.civilbeat.com - April 18th 2011
- Six Hawaii Farms Sued For Discrimination Against Trafficked Thai Laborers - www.civilbeat.com - April 20th 2011
- Federal Agency (EEOC) Files Civil Suit Against Hawaii Farms Allegedly Abusing Trafficked Thai Workers - Hawaii News Now - April 20th 2011
- Lawsuit Filed Against 6 Hawaii Farms Accused of Human-Trafficking - KHON TV 2 - April 20th 2011
- EEOC Files Lawsuit, but Some Question Timing and Motives - Hawaii Reporter - April 21st 2011
- EEOC Sues 6 Hawaii Farms Years After Ignoring Initial Complaints - www.staradvertiser.com - April 21st 2011
- Hawaii Human Trafficking Bill One Step From Governor's Desk - www.civilbeat.com - April 26th 2011
- First Attempt to Address Sex-Trafficking Teetering on the Brink - www.civilbeat.com - April 27th 2011
- Lawmakers Finally Agree on an Anti Promoting-Prostitution Bill - www.civilbeat.com - April 28th 2011
- Hawaii Gets a Human-Trafficking Bill - www.civilbeat.com - May 9th 2011
- Prostitution Expected to Surge for APEC - www.staradvertiser.com - May 10th 2011
(Note: Though this article shines a necessary light on the underbelly of activity surrounding events such as APEC, PASS does not agree with the many voices in this article who seemingly target Prostituted Persons as the ones to blame. We believe that the persons to blame are the pimp/traffickers and the "johns" aka patrons).
- HAWAII GETS A HUMAN-TRAFFICKING LAW! - www.civilbeat.com - June 20th 2011
- Young Big Island Women Lured in Modeling Scam/Sex-Trafficking Front - Hawaii Tribune Herald - June 29th 2011
- Detailed Description of U.S. Marshals Capture of Hawaii Sex-Trafficker Joseph Vaimili - www.civilbeat.com - September 27th 2011
- Hawaii Sex-Trafficker Joseph Vaimili Captured by U.S. Marshals in Texas - Hawaii News Now - September 27th 2011
- HPD Officer Michael Tarmoun Fired After Found Guilty For Raping a Prostitued-Person, Was a No-Show at Sentencing - Hawaii News Now - October 26th 2011
- Laotian Labor-Trafficking in Hawaii - Hawaii Reporter - November 16th 2011
- Laotian Farm Workers Suffer Health Risks and Financial Harm on Oahu Farms - Hawaii Reporter - December 6th 2011
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Child-Trafficker Quadralis Watson Sentenced to 10 Years In Prison - www.civilbeat.com - December 12th 2011
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Laotian Farm Workers Fall Ill Due to Chemicals, Inspectors to Investigate - Hawaii Reporter - December 16th 2011
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Hawaii Lawmakers Introduce Seven New Human Trafficking Related Bills for 2012 - www.civilbeat.com - January 9th 2012
- Hawaii Advocates Push for More Human Trafficking Laws in 2012 - KITV 4 News - January 9th 2012
- Radio Australia's Interview of PASS Executive Director, Kathryn Xian - January 23rd 2012
- Convicted Pimp, Joseph Vaimili, Sentenced to 40 Years - KTIV 4 - February 21st 2012
- Why Vaimili's Sentencing is a Big Deal - www.civilbeat.com - February 21st 2012
- 350 Ward Avenue in Hawaii, a HotSpot for Prostitution/Trafficking - www.hawaiireporter.com - March 5th 2012
www.civilbeat.com's investigative series
- THE STORY BEHIND CIVIL BEAT'S 4-PART SERIES -www.civilbeat.com - March 12th 2012
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1) How Hawaii Enforces Prostitution Laws - First Article in a 4-Part Series - www.civilbeat.com - March 12th 2012
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2) Human Trafficking Not a Priority for Honolulu Police - Second Article in a 4-Part Series - www.civilbeat.com - March 13th 2012
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3) Honolulu Prostitution Arrests Declining? - Third Article in a 4-Part Series - www.civilbeat.com - March 14th 2012
- 4) The Database - Fourth in a 4-Part Series - www.civilbeat.com - March 14th 2012
- Arrests Turn Up No Trafficking Victims - www.civilbeat.com - March 15th 2012
- Hawaii Becomes Sixth State to Enact Vacating Convictions Law for Sex-Trafficked Victims - www.hawaiireporter.com - July 3rd 2012
- Prosecutor and Mayor Claim to Be Very Active In Prostitution Arrests - www.civilbeat.com - July 9th 2012
- The Life of a Child Victim of Sex-Trafficking at 350 Ward Avenue - Hawaii Reporter - August 24th 2012
- Oahu Paramedics Undergo Training to Identify Sex-Trafficked Victims - KITV News - August 28th 2012
- New Graphic Novel Spreads Awareness about Human Trafficking and Hawaii Bills to End Demand - KITV News - November 11th 2012
- Shared Hope International Gives Hawaii an F In Combatting the Sex Trafficking of Children - KITV News - December 13th 2012
- Hawaii Lawmakers Consider Tougher Penalties for Johns (Video Included) - Hawaii Reporter - February 13th 2013