Honolulu man arrested for stabbing his girlfriend to death and his wife in separate incidents, sparking review of furlough program.

Honolulu police arrested 55-year-old John Keanuenue Nihipali, a convicted felon on a work furlough with an ankle monitor, in connection with the March 6, 2026, stabbing death of his 53-year-old girlfriend in McCully and a separate stabbing of his estranged wife in Kapolei, who survived after her son intervened. Nihipali, who had prior convictions including attempted manslaughter and sexual assault, was apprehended after officers used an electrical-conducted weapon. In response, Hawaii’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation launched a comprehensive review of its work furlough program, with Governor Josh Green authorizing a potential 30-day suspension to ensure public safety.