Rising Hawaiian actor Kekoa Kekumano was arrested in Waikiki last week for allegedly threatening a worker in the tourist district, adding to concerns about confrontational incidents in the area. The 27-year-old actor, known for his roles in major productions including “Aquaman” and “The White Lotus,” now faces criminal charges that could impact his emerging Hollywood career.
According to KITV Island News, the Honolulu Police Department reported that Kekumano allegedly threatened a man working in Waikiki at about 9:15 p.m. on August 4, 2025. Officers arrived at the scene on Kalakaua Avenue and arrested the actor, who was charged with second-degree terroristic threatening but has since been released pending further investigation.
From Lifeguard to Hollywood
Kekumano’s path to acting began early in his life on the islands. As reported by Yahoo Finance, when he graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 2016, his acting career was already underway after making his first appearance on the CBS reboot of “Hawaii Five-0” the previous year as homeless juvenile criminal Nahele Huikala. The character became recurring, and Kekumano appeared in 13 episodes of the show.
Beyond his entertainment work, Kekumano maintains deep ties to his island roots. According to Hawaii News Now, before becoming an actor appearing in “Aquaman,” “White Lotus,” and “Rescue: HI-Surf,” he worked as a lifeguard and started a creative tour company. The actor has spoken about his love for surfing and growing up around the ocean, which led to his day job as a Waikiki lifeguard.
Pattern of Incidents in Tourist District
Kekumano’s arrest adds to a troubling pattern of threatening incidents that have occurred in Waikiki recently. Just three weeks before his arrest, KITV Island News reported that a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree terroristic threatening at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort. Hotel security had approached the suspect about a possible missing room key when he threatened them with a metal stick before fleeing into the ocean…