GARY KUBOTA / GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM Maui police stopped traffic yesterday on Honoapiilani Highway near Kapalua, asking motorists if they had any information about a suspect who shot police officer Donald Nakooka Tuesday afternoon.

Cop’s vest is credited
with saving life in shooting

Donald Nakooka was already
an advocate of bulletproof gear

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> Maui Police officer Donald Nakooka, who survived a shooting on Tuesday, has been in favor of patrolmen wearing protective vests for years and has worn it even when it was not required equipment, police officers said.

The vest probably saved his life when a motorist shot him at close range as he made a traffic stop in Kapalua, detectives said.

Nakooka, 31, who has been a police officer for 10 years, was held for observation for a second night at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

He required no surgery but has a bruise the size of a silver dollar from the impact of the bullet as it struck his protective vest, police said.

GARY KUBOTA / GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM Maui police Lt. Sara Cluney holds a Second Chance protective vest, the same kind worn by Nakooka, who survived a shot to the abdomen.

Maui patrol officers have been required to wear bulletproof vests since earlier this year when enough money became available to purchase them for all uniformed officers, said police Lt. Jody Singsank.

The protective vest worn by Nakooka was made by Second Chance and included an armored plate capable of stopping a .44 Magnum, according to the company.

Deputy Police Chief Kekuhaupio Akana said detectives are investigating several calls from people responding to requests for information about the shooting.

Police established roadblocks yesterday to ask motorists if they had information about a gray, silver or metallic four-door vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Caprice without a license plate, driven by a skinny male with tapered jet-black hair and a hairless forearm with protruding veins.

Akana said he suspects the shooter may be a drug abuser because of his tendency toward violence and irrational behavior.

"We have a person who has a blatant disregard for life and law," Akana said.

Akana said he met with Nakooka's family at the hospital.

"We all hugged each other and looked each other in the eyes," he said. "We're all thankful he's alive."

Akana said Nakooka will be given as much time as necessary to recuperate from the shooting.

"We'll certainly let him heal on his schedule and time," Akana said.