Thad Fumio Sugai was a 26-year-old Hawaiian Native from Honolulu working as an officer with Hawaii’s State Security Division when he was shot to death inside Diamond Head Crater on December 20, 1983. Reports describe a man inside the crater behaving wildly, throwing rocks, terrifying visitors and jumping on cars. When Sugai confronted the man, the suspect allegedly attacked immediately, pulled Sugai from his vehicle, disarmed him and fired multiple shots, killing the young officer with his own service weapon.

A second officer or guard then arrived and shot the suspect, critically wounding him; the suspect did not flee and was taken into custody at the scene. The suspect was later found not guilty by reason of insanity on October 4, 1984, and committed to a state Department of Health mental facility. Sugai had served about a year with the State Security Division and was survived by his parents and sister.

Did anyone who visited Diamond Head Crater that day or knew Sugai remember details that could add clarity to what happened during that confrontation?