(Beth Clifton collage)
Murder victim Alfred M. Kailihiwa was feeding cats; fire victim Susan Solari stayed with her dogs
KAHULUI, Hawaii; ANGELS CAMP, California––Neuter/return cat trapper Alfred M. Kailihiwa, 71, of Waihee, Hawaii, allegedly murdered on August 6, 2026, and German shepherd breeder Susan Solari, 70, of Angel’s Camp, California, a wildfire victim reported dead the same day, appear to have had little in common in life, but both died in the line of duty toward the animals for whom they took responsibility.
“On August 6, 2026,” reported Kitty Charm Farm Sanctuary president Sarah Haynes, of Maui, Hawaii, “Alfred was feeding cats in downtown Kahului with his sister Valerie.
Beaten with a brick
“My understanding,” Haynes posted to Facebook, “is that there was a scuffle with two men. It started because Alfred’s lights were shining in the direction of one man, while Alfred was feeding the colony. Alfred ended up using pepper spray. Alfred and Valerie left and continued on their colony route. Alfred was later taken by surprise by two men who beat him with a brick.
“He was rushed to the Maui Memorial Medical Center, was on life support overnight, and succumbed to his injuries” the next morning, August 7, 2026.
“I’m told a bystander got some footage,” Haynes said, “so hopefully these men will be apprehended and charged with his murder.”
Suspects objected to headlights
Updated Hawaii News Now on August 10, 2026, “The attack occurred around 11:10 p.m. near Lalo and Hukilike streets.
“Police said Kailihiwa and his 73-year-old sister, both of Waihee, were driving in the area to take care of animals when they encountered two men, later identified as Richard Kealoha Kaauwai, 34, of Wailuku, and Johnathan Koko-Kong, 31, along with a woman who confronted them about their bright headlights.
“Police said Kailihiwa used pepper spray on the group before he and his sister left the area,” Hawaii News Now continued.
Older sister was also attacked
“Investigators said the three suspects followed the siblings to Lalo Street and confronted them again. Police said Kailihiwa was struck multiple times in the head, knocked to the ground and kicked while he was down.
“His sister was pushed to the ground, and the suspects allegedly tried to take her vehicle and stole her flashlight before fleeing.”
“Kaauwai and Koko-Kong were later charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and second-degree assault,” Hawaii News Now added. “Bail was set at $530,000 each.”
The 36-year-old woman who was with Kaauwai and Koko-Kong was not immediately named or charged, but “Police said the woman remains in custody,” Hawaii News Now said, “as the investigation continues.”
Suspect well-known to police
Suspect Richard Kealoha-Kaauwai, at least, was already well-known to law enforcement.
In October 2019, according to Maui Now, Kealoha-Kaauwai “was issued a court ordered temporary three-day release to attend to a personal matter,” while “awaiting trial for abuse of a family or household member and third degree promotion of a dangerous drug.”
An all-points bulletin was issued after Kealoha-Kaauwai failed to return to face the charges, the disposition of which is unknown to ANIMALS 24-7.
Trapped thousands of cats to be fixed
Testified “Rusty Mauicat” in a memorial Facebook posting, “Alfred Kailihiwa dedicated his life to caring for community cats on Maui. He and his sister Valerie fed about 700 cats a night, every night of the year, unless there was a bad storm. He also trapped cats almost every week for years to get them fixed at the Maui Humane Society.
“A few years ago, Alfred estimated that he’d trapped about 12,000 cats to be fixed. We suspect he did a couple thousand more between then and now. So, at least 14,000 cats? We don’t know.
“Alfred also flew to Oahu and the Big Island several times to help trap cats there,” Rusty Mauicat said. “On those nights, he and Valerie would feed as many cats as possible. Then he’d go to the airport where he’d get the last flight of the evening, arrive on the either Oahu or Hawaii, and start trapping, then fly back in the morning.
Trapped cats “For the Lord”
Added Rusty Mauicat, “Many people were in awe of his trapping knowledge and dedication to fix as many cats as possible.
“Alfred had a wonderful and kind way of encouraging other trappers, sharing trapping tips, applauding our successes, and consoling us when we struggled. He’d stop by a trapping location to offer help, he’d loan cat traps, and even share cans of his best trapping sardines or tuna fish so we would have every advantage.”
Said friend Russell Wilson, “Alfred and I worked together on Sunday evenings to trap kitties. We would encourage each other, and his faith shone brightly! Everything he did, he did for the Lord. He would never take the credit.”
In Kailihiwa’s last text message to Wilson, Wilson remembered, “He said, ‘Thank you for all you do for the community cats. You will be blessed.’ No, Alfred….YOU will be blessed! I will continue on, helping kitties in your memory!”
Problematic practices & family
ANIMALS 24-7 does not recommend feeding cats as part of a neuter/return project, except to bait traps, because if cats are present somewhere, they will, like any other resident wildlife, already have adequate food sources.
Adding more only tends to attract more cats, concentrates cats in a frequently problematic manner that attracts attention to their presence, and routine feeding often changes cat behavior from hunting mainly rodents at night to waiting for feedings by day, hunting birds for sport.
Cats hunting birds is particularly controversial in Hawaii, home to approximately 30 indigenous endangered bird species. Alfred Kailihiwa and colleagues reduced the risk of cats hunting birds by feeding cats only at night.
While Alfred Kailihiwa is well remembered for his concern for animals, ANIMALS 24-7 learned in researching his death that several members of his extended family are, or have been, notorious for involvement in cockfighting and hunting pigs with dogs.
Solari “didn’t want to leave her puppies”
“One of Susan Solari’s neighbors of 15 years told Cecil Hannibal,” of KCRA television in Sacramento, California, “that she was on the phone with her when her home was surrounded by flames. That neighbor believes Solari may have decided not to evacuate because she didn’t want to leave her puppies,” KCRA digital news producers Jonathan Ayestas and Nijzel Dotson reported after Solari’s remains were identified.
Ayestas and Dotson described Solari as “a longtime breeder of German Shepherds who was active in the American Kennel Club,” adding that, “A website for the dog breeding business Hinterland German Shepherds listed Solari as contact before it was made inaccessible.”
Said the website, Ayestas and Dotson narrated, “There is no better companion than the German Shepherd dog. I was raised by one through my teenage years. We were inseparable companions.”
“She hadn’t shown dogs for a long time”
Solari “was well-known in the dog show circuit,” neighbor Joan Wilson told Gabriel Porras of KXTV in Sacramento, but added, “I know she hadn’t shown dogs for a long time. She had just gotten puppies, probably 15 or 20 puppies, and I think that’s probably one of the reasons she wouldn’t evacuate.”
“She sounded frantic,” said Wilson of Solari’s last call. “This was about 11:53 a.m. Tuesday morning,” August 4, 2026.
“I could understand that the fire was around her, surrounding her,” Wilson recounted to Porras. “I talked to Sue; she was yelling, and I had a hard time understanding what she was saying, but I heard that the fire was all around. I finally just had to say ‘we’ll talk later’ and that was the last I talked to her.”
Solari is the only known fatality so far from the Gann Fire, razing 10,339 acres as of August 10, 2026, still only 78% contained.
Alleged fire-starter arrested
Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, has been arrested “on charges related to recklessly causing a fire,” KCRA updated. “He was taken into custody near the fire’s origin, hours after it ignited,” KCRA said.
Smith told KCRA that he “was sawing metal scraps to earn money for a birthday dinner with his wife and did not mean to start the fire,” but KCRA noted that “In 2018, Smith was charged with igniting another fire. He pleaded no contest and received a sentence of 36 months’ probation.”
Smith himself was reportedly an inmate firefighter “more than two decades ago while doing time at a California work camp,” KCRA learned.
“He first served in the Conservation Camp Program as an inmate firefighter in Soledad in 1999 and then at a Georgetown camp before he was released on parole,” KCRA said.
“At the time,” KCRA explained, “Smith had been jailed for receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.”
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