Kahue has history
of volatile behavior

Voices tell him to attack Caucasians
and kill them, a doctor says

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

A Waikiki man indicted for causing the death of former Honolulu Star-Bulletin freelance sportswriter Jack Wyatt and injuring two other women along the Ala Wai Canal last month apparently was hearing voices telling him to attack and kill Caucasians, according to a doctor's report.

The report submitted by Dr. D. Douglas Smith also noted that Cline Kahue, 48, is dangerous based on his history and his behavior at the Hawaii State Hospital where he is being held. Kahue has a history of attacking and threatening Caucasians that has continued since being arrested in connection with the June 18 attack on Wyatt and the two women who were slightly injured, said the report.

Smith is one of three examiners appointed by the courts who unanimously agreed that Kahue is unfit to proceed to trial on charges of second-degree murder and second- and third-degree assault.

According to Smith's report, Kahue was taken to the Queen's Medical Center emergency room June 15 because of a concern he might have overdosed on medication.

He was discharged the next day, against the advice of doctors, just two days before the Ala Wai attacks.

While at the hospital, he apparently made hostile and threatening remarks such as "kill haoles" and "kill females" to a doctor and was recommended for psychiatric evaluation, the report says.

Although he agreed to undergo an evaluation, Kahue refused to give consent for treatment the following day and asked to go home, against his brother's urging, Smith said.

Why Kahue was allowed to leave is not known, said Walter Rodby, the public defender representing Kahue.

What is known, according to police, is that Kahue attacked Wyatt, a Caucasian, and the two women two days later.

Queen's Medical Center spokeswoman Lynn Kenton said because of hospital and state privacy laws, she could not divulge information about Kahue.

Kahue apparently was insane at the time of the attacks, remains unfit and cannot proceed to trial because he cannot understand the proceedings against him, Rodby said in his request to have his client examined.

Circuit Judge Dan Kochi granted the defense's request a week ago to commit Kahue to the custody of the state Department of Health and allow him to remain at the State Hospital.

"He is seriously ill and doctors at the State Hospital are recommending he stay for continued treatment," Rodby said. "They're doing their best to help Mr. Kahue."

Although Kahue is taking antipsychotic medication and is being treated in the hospital's most secure unit, Smith found that Kahue poses a "significant, ongoing risk" to hospital staff and patients, according to his report.

He continues to show hostility toward Caucasians, including his former public defender, staff at the State Hospital and particularly blond-haired women, Smith wrote. He has described hearing voices that told him to attack and kill Caucasians, Smith wrote.

During a meal at the State Hospital on July 7, Kahue stood up and struck a Caucasian man in the jaw with no provocation. He later told staff, "They don't deserve the same food we have. They don't deserve to live."

Kahue in the past has been diagnosed with paranoia and schizophrenia and has exhibited violent behavior since 1996, particularly against Caucasians, Smith noted.

In 1996, Kahue apparently assaulted his mother and a man he encountered on the street and was reported to have been sexually assaulted while homeless by another man, Smith said in his report.

Kahue was admitted to the State Hospital for the first time in 1996 and has been in and out on various forms of conditional release until he was fully discharged in March 2001.

During his stays at the State Hospital, he was noted to threaten Caucasian staff members and expressed hostility toward Caucasians, "particularly those with Scandinavian features who he said were demons he would kill," Smith noted.

"He was noted to have an elaborate set of delusional beliefs about a Caucasian conspiracy to commit genocide of minorities," Smith added.

During a probation hearing in 1997, Kahue fled the courtroom and allegedly assaulted four people waiting outside the building, including a pregnant woman and a 5-year-old boy. He was acquitted by reason of mental illness on assault charges and committed back to the State Hospital.

He was later released to court supervision and returned to the hospital in 1999 where he reportedly struck another patient in the head.

After his full discharge from hospital and court supervision in March 2001, Kahue apparently had been living independently and continued to receive treatment in the community, even up until the day of his arrest, Smith wrote.

Kahue had been taking classes at Kapiolani Community College, attending services and Bible study at Kaimuki Christian Church and even attended his high school reunion in early June, Smith noted.

At Kahue's initial court appearance on June 24, a District Court judge agreed to appoint a panel to examine Kahue after his public defender reported that he did not seem able to assist in his defense. Kahue was subsequently indicted by a grand jury.

Yesterday, Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty granted the defense's request to appoint the same or a new panel to determine Kahue's fitness to proceed.

A fitness hearing is set for Oct. 1.