![\"Susan](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.animals24-7.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picsart_26-08-10_17-13-34-083-e1786407240159.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a> Susan Solari & Albert Kailihiwa.<\/strong><\/em> KAHULUI,\u00a0 Hawaii;\u00a0 ANGELS CAMP,\u00a0 California<\/strong>\u2013\u2013Neuter\/return cat trapper Alfred M. Kailihiwa, \u00a071,\u00a0 of Waihee,\u00a0 Hawaii,\u00a0 allegedly murdered on August 6,\u00a0 2026,\u00a0 and German shepherd breeder Susan Solari,\u00a0 70,\u00a0 of Angel\u2019s Camp,\u00a0 California,\u00a0 a wildfire victim reported dead the same day,\u00a0 appear to have had little in common in life,\u00a0 but both died in the line of duty toward the animals for whom they took responsibility.<\/p>\n \u201cOn August 6,\u00a0 2026,\u201d\u00a0 reported Kitty Charm Farm Sanctuary president Sarah Haynes,\u00a0 of Maui,\u00a0 Hawaii,\u00a0 \u201cAlfred was feeding cats in downtown Kahului with his sister Valerie.<\/p>\n <\/a> Albert Kailihiwa.\u00a0 (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201cMy understanding,\u201d\u00a0 Haynes posted to Facebook, \u00a0\u201cis that there was a scuffle with two men. It started because Alfred\u2019s lights were shining in the direction of one man, \u00a0while Alfred was feeding the colony. \u00a0Alfred ended up using pepper spray. \u00a0Alfred and Valerie left and continued on their colony route. \u00a0Alfred was later taken by surprise by two men who beat him with a brick.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was rushed to the Maui Memorial Medical Center, \u00a0was on life support overnight, \u00a0and succumbed to his injuries\u201d the next morning, August 7,\u00a0 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m told a bystander got some footage,\u201d\u00a0 Haynes said, \u00a0\u201cso hopefully these men will be apprehended and charged with his murder.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Updated Hawaii News Now<\/em> on August 10,\u00a0 2026,\u00a0 \u201cThe attack occurred around 11:10 p.m. near Lalo and Hukilike streets.<\/p>\n \u201cPolice said Kailihiwa and his 73-year-old sister, \u00a0both of Waihee, \u00a0were driving in the area to take care of animals when they encountered two men, later identified as Richard Kealoha Kaauwai,\u00a0 34, \u00a0of Wailuku, \u00a0and Johnathan Koko-Kong, \u00a031, \u00a0along with a woman who confronted them about their bright headlights.<\/p>\n \u201cPolice said Kailihiwa used pepper spray on the group before he and his sister left the area,\u201d\u00a0 Hawaii News Now <\/em>continued.<\/p>\n \u201cInvestigators said the three suspects followed the siblings to Lalo Street and confronted them again.\u00a0 Police said Kailihiwa was struck multiple times in the head, knocked to the ground and kicked while he was down.<\/p>\n \u201cHis sister was pushed to the ground, and the suspects allegedly tried to take her vehicle and stole her flashlight before fleeing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKaauwai and Koko-Kong were later charged with second-degree murder,\u00a0 first-degree robbery,\u00a0 and second-degree assault,\u201d\u00a0 Hawaii News Now<\/em> added.\u00a0 \u201cBail was set at $530,000 each.\u201d<\/p>\n The 36-year-old woman who was with Kaauwai and Koko-Kong was not immediately named or charged,\u00a0 but \u201cPolice said the woman remains in custody,\u201d\u00a0 Hawaii News Now<\/em> said,\u00a0 \u201cas the investigation continues.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Maui Police Department photos)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Suspect Richard Kealoha-Kaauwai,\u00a0 at least,\u00a0 was already well-known to law enforcement.<\/p>\n In October 2019,\u00a0 according to Maui Now<\/em>,\u00a0 Kealoha-Kaauwai \u201cwas issued a court ordered temporary three-day release to attend to a personal matter,\u201d\u00a0 while \u201cawaiting trial for abuse of a family or household member and third degree promotion of a dangerous drug.\u201d<\/p>\n An all-points bulletin was issued after Kealoha-Kaauwai failed to return to face the charges,\u00a0 the disposition of which is unknown to ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Testified \u201cRusty Mauicat\u201d in a memorial Facebook posting,\u00a0 \u201cAlfred Kailihiwa dedicated his life to caring for community cats on Maui. He and his sister Valerie fed about 700 cats a night, \u00a0every night of the year, \u00a0unless there was a bad storm. \u00a0He also trapped cats almost every week for years to get them fixed at the Maui Humane Society.<\/p>\n \u201cA few years ago, \u00a0Alfred estimated that he\u2019d trapped about 12,000 cats to be fixed. \u00a0We suspect he did a couple thousand more between then and now. \u00a0So, \u00a0at least 14,000 cats? \u00a0We don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cAlfred also flew to Oahu and the Big Island several times to help trap cats there,\u201d\u00a0 Rusty Mauicat said.\u00a0 \u201cOn those nights, he and Valerie would feed as many cats as possible.\u00a0 Then he\u2019d go to the airport where he\u2019d get the last flight of the evening, \u00a0arrive on the either Oahu or Hawaii, \u00a0and start trapping, \u00a0then fly back in the morning.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Added Rusty Mauicat,\u00a0 \u201cMany people were in awe of his trapping knowledge and dedication to fix as many cats as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cAlfred had a wonderful and kind way of encouraging other trappers, \u00a0sharing trapping tips, \u00a0applauding our successes, \u00a0and consoling us when we struggled. \u00a0He\u2019d stop by a trapping location to offer help, \u00a0he\u2019d loan cat traps, \u00a0and even share cans of his best trapping sardines or tuna fish so we would have every advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n Said friend Russell Wilson,\u00a0 \u201cAlfred and I worked together on Sunday evenings to trap kitties. \u00a0We would encourage each other, \u00a0and his faith shone brightly! \u00a0Everything he did, \u00a0he did for the Lord. \u00a0He would never take the credit.\u201d<\/p>\n In Kailihiwa\u2019s last text message to Wilson,\u00a0 Wilson remembered,\u00a0 \u201cHe said, \u00a0\u2018Thank you for all you do for the community cats. \u00a0You will be blessed.\u2019 \u00a0No, Alfred\u2026.YOU will be blessed! \u00a0I will continue on,\u00a0 helping kitties in your memory!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>ANIMALS 24-7\u00a0<\/strong>does not recommend feeding cats as part of a neuter\/return project,\u00a0 except to bait traps,\u00a0 because if cats are present somewhere,\u00a0 they will,\u00a0 like any other resident wildlife,\u00a0 already have adequate food sources.<\/p>\n Adding more only tends to attract more cats,\u00a0 concentrates cats in a frequently problematic manner that attracts attention to their presence,\u00a0 and routine feeding often changes cat behavior from hunting mainly rodents at night to waiting for feedings by day,\u00a0 hunting birds for sport.<\/p>\n Cats hunting birds is particularly controversial in Hawaii,\u00a0 home to approximately 30 indigenous endangered bird species.\u00a0 Alfred Kailihiwa and colleagues reduced the risk of cats hunting birds by feeding cats only at night.<\/p>\n While Alfred Kailihiwa is well remembered for his concern for animals,\u00a0 ANIMALS 24-7\u00a0<\/strong>learned in researching his death that several members of his extended family are,\u00a0 or have been,\u00a0 notorious for involvement in cockfighting and hunting pigs with dogs.<\/p>\n <\/a> Susan Solari.\u00a0 (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201cOne of Susan Solari\u2019s neighbors of 15 years told Cecil Hannibal,\u201d\u00a0 of KCRA television in Sacramento,\u00a0 California, \u00a0\u201cthat she was on the phone with her when her home was surrounded by flames. \u00a0That neighbor believes Solari may have decided not to evacuate because she didn\u2019t want to leave her puppies,\u201d\u00a0 KCRA digital news producers Jonathan Ayestas and Nijzel Dotson reported after Solari\u2019s remains were identified.<\/p>\n Ayestas and Dotson described Solari as \u201ca longtime breeder of German Shepherds who was active in the American Kennel Club,\u201d\u00a0 adding that,\u00a0 \u201cA website for the dog breeding business Hinterland German Shepherds listed Solari as contact before it was made inaccessible.\u201d<\/p>\n Said the website,\u00a0 Ayestas and Dotson narrated,\u00a0 \u201cThere is no better companion than the German Shepherd dog.\u00a0 I was raised by one through my teenage years. \u00a0We were inseparable companions.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> Susan Solari at age 17.\u00a0 (Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Solari \u201cwas well-known in the dog show circuit,\u201d\u00a0 neighbor Joan Wilson told Gabriel Porras of KXTV in Sacramento,\u00a0 but added,\u00a0 \u201cI know she hadn\u2019t shown dogs for a long time. \u00a0She had just gotten puppies, \u00a0probably 15 or 20 puppies, \u00a0and I think that\u2019s probably one of the reasons she wouldn\u2019t evacuate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe sounded frantic,\u201d\u00a0 said Wilson of Solari\u2019s last call.\u00a0 \u201cThis was about 11:53 a.m. Tuesday morning,\u201d\u00a0 August 4,\u00a0 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cI could understand that the fire was around her, \u00a0surrounding her,\u201d \u00a0Wilson recounted to Porras. \u00a0\u201cI talked to Sue; \u00a0she was yelling, \u00a0and I had a hard time understanding what she was saying, \u00a0but I heard that the fire was all around. \u00a0I finally just had to say \u2018we\u2019ll talk later\u2019 and that was the last I talked to her.\u201d<\/p>\n Solari is the only known fatality so far from the Gann Fire,\u00a0 razing 10,339 acres as of August 10,\u00a0 2026,\u00a0 still only 78% contained.<\/p>\n
(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\nMurder victim Alfred M. Kailihiwa was feeding cats;\u00a0 fire victim Susan Solari stayed with her dogs<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nBeaten with a brick<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nSuspects objected to headlights<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Older sister was also attacked<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\nSuspect well-known to police<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nTrapped thousands of cats to be fixed<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nTrapped cats \u201cFor the Lord\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nProblematic practices & family<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nSolari \u201cdidn\u2019t want to leave her puppies\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u201cShe hadn\u2019t shown dogs for a long time\u201d<\/h2>\n