Shawn Lewis was a beloved member of the adaptive surfing community. Photo: Hawaii Adaptive Surf Team Fans
A suspect is under investigation in the September 15 murder of 42-year-old Maui adaptive surfer Shawn Lewis. Court proceedings appear to indicate that murder charges could follow soon.
Maui Now reported that, according to court documents and Maui Police Commission reports, the 37-year-old Maui resident Sekonaia “Kona” Takafua is being investigated as a suspect in the murder case. Takafua and Lewis both were previously Lahaina residents when the devastating wildfire tore through the town on August 8, 2023. Takafua lost his wife and 7-year-old son, as well as both of his wife’s parents, in the blaze.
It’s unclear if Takafua and Lewis knew each other from their time as Lahaina residents. Police have yet to release a possible motive for the murder.
Lewis was a Lahaina-born amputee surfer who lost a portion of his left leg after a motorcycle accident, which led to his nickname “Bigfoot.” He represented Hawaii in the 2021 and 2022 ISA World Para Surfing Championships in California. He placed 12th both times in the “Stand 2” division for surfers with impairments below the knee. His best result was a third place in the 2021 USA para surfing national championships.
As the news circulated, social media flooded with posts by the Maui and global adaptive surfing communities remembering the life of Lewis.
“He was a big personality and lived on the big side of life,” the adaptive surfing non-profit and former sponsor of the ISA Para Surfing Champs, AmpSurf, said on Instagram. “He also had a very kind heart and was always striving to improve not only himself, but those around him.”
At 11:30 p.m. on September 15, police received an automatic iPhone alert of a car accident in the Maui town of Waikapū. When they arrived on the scene they discovered that the accident had been caused after the driver received a gunshot wound. Police found a passerby helping Lewis in his red minivan by applying pressure to a wound on his neck. An hour and a half later, on September 16, Lewis was pronounced dead.
Two shell casings were recovered from the scene and nearby surveillance footage led police to determine that the shooter was driving a blue 2019 Hyundai Sonata. That vehicle was found and impounded on September 19, which police say helped them identify a suspect.
Four days after the murder, Takafua was arrested for unrelated firearms offenses that date back to an incident on April 4 where he was found in a vehicle with drug paraphernalia, a .45 caliber handgun without a serial number, and ammunition for said gun.
Takafua is currently in custody and faces charges of carrying a loaded firearm on a public highway, a place to keep ammunition, a place to keep a firearm, receivership of a firearm with no serial number, and ownership of an automatic firearm with prohibited detachable ammunition magazines. That trial begins on February 25 and his bail is set at $100,000.
While setting bail for these charges, the prosecutor indicated that Takafua could soon be charged with murder.
“(Takafua) is now fully aware that he will likely be facing a murder charge in the near future which shows that there is a serious risk he will flee to avoid justice,” said the prosecutor. Takafua’s defense attorney said that this was the first that he was made aware of any possible murder charges.
