Ikaika Stone, a 39-year-old Asian and Pacific Islander man from Honolulu, was remembered by loved ones as a selfless and devoted family man. A fundraiser organized by his family described him as a loving husband who left behind a wife, a daughter, three sons, and a grandson. Known by the nickname “Kanaka kaiks,” he was called an amazing father with a heart of gold by his family and a "big bear" by a friend.
On the night of October 27, 2023, Stone was in Honolulu’s Kaka‘ako
neighborhood. Following a company barbecue, an argument between Stone and two brothers, one a former coworker, escalated into a physical fight outside a contractor’s base yard on Ohe Street. At approximately 11:15 p.m., police say one of the brothers shot Stone multiple times. First responders arrived to find him in critical condition, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
In the moments after the shooting, one of Stone’s friends, Harvey Kalahiki, tried to intervene. According to investigators, the shooter turned the gun on Kalahiki and pulled the trigger, but the weapon failed to fire. The gunman's younger brother then allegedly grabbed the weapon and also tried to shoot the friend, but the gun malfunctioned a second time. The two suspects then fled the scene.
The following day, brothers Fanaika Mateaki, 26, and Paea Mateaki, 19, turned themselves in to Honolulu police. A grand jury later indicted them both. Fanaika was charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, and several firearms offenses. Paea was charged with second-degree attempted murder and firearms offenses. Bail was set at $1 million for Fanaika and $750,000 for Paea, and they were held at the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center.
During their initial court appearances, the brothers requested a Tongan interpreter. On November 9, 2023, Fanaika and Paea Mateaki were arraigned in Circuit Court, where they both pleaded not guilty to all charges. A judge scheduled a single jury trial for the pair to begin on January 8, 2024, before Judge Paul Wong.
In the weeks after his death, Stone’s family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil on the street where he was killed, where a large mural bearing his nickname also appeared. His girlfriend, Jazzlynn Aponte, told reporters she was heartbroken that an argument could escalate so tragically. She and other family members said they were dedicated to raising awareness about gun violence, hoping no other family would have to endure a similar loss. The case was proceeding to trial as of November 2023.
