Hula teacher
Mahoe gets five
years probation

He pleaded no contest last year
to sexually assaulting four minors

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

Hula teacher Howell "Chinky" Mahoe, who pleaded no contest last year to sexually assaulting four dancers, all minors, was sentenced today to five years probation.

Circuit Judge Wilfred Watanabe, in not imposing a prison term, said Mahoe has no criminal history, has been conscientious about his treatment and has abided by the terms of his bail.

Watanabe said Mahoe's rehabilitative progress has been "excellent" and that he is unlikely to commit another crime.

The probation conditions, which include 500 hours of community service, are:

No contact with the victims or anyone connected with the victims without knowledge and authorization of his probation officer;

One or more adults must be present during any and all contact with minor children; and

He cannot live with any minor children without permission of the probation officer.

Mahoe, 43, pleaded no contest in September to five felony counts of third-degree sexual assault and one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree sexual assault involving four boys ages 9 to 14 from 1994 to 1996.

The state alleged that Mahoe fondled each of the boys on separate occasions over periods ranging from a couple months to more than a year during "sleep-overs," not during Mahoe's hula classes.

Previous sentencing hearings had been set for March 4, April 23 and May 21. The state asked for the first delay to enable a witness to testify. The defense asked for a second because Mahoe's attorney was in trial in another courtroom.

Mahoe's attorney, David Gierlach, in May said that Mahoe, whose hula troupe Halau Hula O Kawaili'ula has won the crown in the Merrie Monarch competition, was continuing to teach and tour. He also had said he would ask for probation for Mahoe, who was free after posting $25,250 bail.