Hawaii Man Accused of Kidnapping Woman in Parking Lot

A Honolulu woman was the target of an attempted kidnapping in a condominium parking lot on Monday, an incident captured on surveillance video.

The incident occurred around noon when an unidentified 24-year-old woman and her 77-year-old friend were walking in a garage. The footage shows 23-year-old Diesel Kawelo approaching the women, who began backing away. Kawelo then allegedly attempted to grab the younger woman's arm, prompting her to flee. He pursued her, and the older woman was left behind.

Exterior camera footage showed Kawelo carrying the struggling woman toward his truck as she flailed and screamed. A neighbor, who asked not to be named, told Hawaii News Now that she heard the commotion and saw Kawelo carrying the woman. "He looked like a monster," the neighbor stated, describing his eyes as filled with "hatred and craziness."

Other residents intervened. Mike Finkelstein told Hawaii News Now that he yelled at Kawelo and threatened to call the police. Beverly Louis reported seeing Kawelo "bear hugging a woman and dragging her to the back of his truck." She joined other neighbors in shouting for him to drop the woman.

The woman managed to break free from Kawelo as a bystander approached. Kawelo then reportedly entered his truck and reversed rapidly out of the parking lot.

Police arrested Kawelo approximately three hours later after he was found running naked down a nearby street. He was taken into custody and charged with kidnapping and second-degree assault. His bond was set at $500,000.

During a court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors stated that Kawelo carried the victim 35 feet while she resisted. He released her about four feet from his truck after bystanders intervened. Kawelo, who remained silent during the hearing, was identified by his victim in a lineup. His next court date is scheduled for Monday.