Honolulu Police Officer Shoots Hālawa Man During Domestic Dispute

The man was wielding a knife and didn't stop approaching police after being shocked with a Taser, police chief said.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A Honolulu police officer shot a 22-year-old man in the thigh while responding to a domestic argument call in Hālawa on Sunday night. The suspect, identified as Kaypee Palik, Jr., had pushed into the kitchen, pulled out a knife, and refused to drop the weapon despite officers' commands. An officer used a Taser, but it was ineffective, leading a second officer to shoot Palik in the thigh. Palik was taken to the hospital and has since been released and is in custody, facing charges of terroristic threatening and abuse of a household member.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the challenges police face when responding to domestic disputes, particularly when a suspect is armed and unwilling to comply with orders. It also raises questions about the use of force and the role of mental health in such situations, as the police chief noted the suspect may have had mental health issues.

The details

According to Honolulu interim police chief Rade Vanic, officers responded to a domestic argument call at 10:22 p.m. on Sunday. When they arrived, the caller answered the door, and the suspect, Kaypee Palik, Jr., pushed into the kitchen and pulled out a knife. Officers gave verbal commands for Palik to drop the weapon, but he refused and advanced towards them. An officer used a Taser, but it was ineffective. A second officer then shot Palik once in the thigh. Palik was taken to the hospital and has since been released and is in custody, facing charges of terroristic threatening and abuse of a household member.

  • On Sunday night at 10:22 p.m., police responded to a domestic argument call in Hālawa.

The players

Kaypee Palik, Jr.

A 22-year-old man who was shot by a Honolulu police officer during a domestic dispute. Palik had punched his 16-year-old brother and 18-year-old sister before officers arrived, and his parents told officers there had been similar incidents in 2025 that they hadn't reported. Palik had never been arrested before.

Rade Vanic

The interim police chief of the Honolulu Police Department, who provided details about the incident at a press conference.

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What they’re saying

“Officers gave verbal commands for him to drop the weapon, but he refused and advanced towards them.”

— Rade Vanic, Honolulu Interim Police Chief (civilbeat.org)

“The parents had told us there are possible issues with mental illness, but that's part of our investigation so I cannot confirm yet.”

— Rade Vanic, Honolulu Interim Police Chief (civilbeat.org)

What’s next

The department will complete its standard criminal and administrative investigations, and the city prosecutor's office will do its own investigation because it was an officer-involved shooting.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the complex and dangerous situations police officers face when responding to domestic disputes, especially when a suspect is armed and unwilling to comply with orders. It also raises questions about the role of mental health in such situations and the use of force by police.