Joseph Kahahawai Jr. (25 December 1909 – 8 January 1932) was a Native Hawaiian prizefighter accused of the rape of Thalia Massie.

[3]: 99 With a hung jury – stymied by conflicting evidence – resulting in a mistrial, the defendants were released on bail to await a second trial.

On January 8, 1932, Kahahawai was approached by Albert O. Jones with a forged summons document stating that Major Ross, Territorial Police Commander needed to see him for questioning.

At the Fortescue home, officers discovered two handguns, bloodstains on the floor, clothing belonging to Kahahawai, and the rope that was used to wrap his body.

Unlike other prisoners who await trial in jail cell, the four were allowed to stay on board a decommissioned Navy ship, the USS Alton with comfortable accommodations and meals prepared for them.

The white population, heavily weighted by the American citizens of Naval Station Pearl Harbor and the businesses supporting it, was enraged.

[7] All four left Hawaii just days after sitting through their one-hour sentence, preventing the retrial of the four surviving defendants in the Massie rape case.

Viewing of Joseph Kahahawai's body took place at the Nu'uanu Funeral Parlor from Saturday evening until Sunday morning.

Police motorcycles escorted the funeral procession of more than a hundred cars to the downtown Fort Street Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, where a Roman Catholic Requiem Mass took place.

He lay in his coffin with bright orange and yellow Ilima lei around his neck as mourners moved slowly past for hours.

Speaking in the Hawaiian language, Reverend Robert Ahuna of the Ho'omana Na'auao O Hawaii performed the committal service at the Puea Cemetery in Kalihi-Palama where he was finally laid to rest on January 10, 1932.

[3] The funeral service closed with hymns sung in Hawaiian, such as Kalani Ku'u Home, Hawai'i Pono'i and Aloha 'Oe.