The daughter of a Tongan man killed after a row with another Tongan man in Maui, Hawai‘i, has said she is “heartbroken” at his death.
Sione Paletu’a, 53, passed away on July 20, 2024 after Lahaina Patrol Officers responded and attended a murder scene at around 11.46am the same day.
Two days later, police arrested Seniola Kafoa Jr, 46, of Lahaina and charged him with second-degree attempted murder in relation to Paletu’a’s death.
Paletu’a’s daughter Mafile’o shared her devastation at his killing.
She said: ” He is the reason why my siblings and I, have to visit our dad at the cemetery”.
She said the accused knew them and her dad well.
“The sad part about this is, this person knew of us. He knew my dad had 7 kids, he knew my dad had a grandchild, and he knew my dad was our last living parent.
“Yet, he bypassed all that and decided to take my dad’s life away”.
As Kaniva News reported earlier this week, Paletua’s children launched a fundraiser to help bring his body back home to California from Hawai’i.
They said they wanted him to be laid to rest beside their mother, Lesieli Paletua. Lesieli passed away 12 years ago after battling cancer.
“I hope you rot in prison in this life and hell in the next life”, Mafile’o said of the accused in a post on Facebook.
“I will do whatever it takes to make sure we put you away for life”.
Lahaina police reportedly said Paltetu’a was unresponsive and suffering from a severe injury to his arm after they had arrived at the scene.
“He died while being taken by ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical Centre in Wailuku”, the Police said.
A shocked close friend of Paletu’a said the paramedics desperately battled to save his life at the scene.
He described Paletu’a as a good man and said that they often had BBQs at a Maui beach with friends.
Mōleni Sime told Kaniva News Paletu’a, and Kafoa were friends, and they used to work together.
