Kirill Basin, a Democratic congressional candidate running against U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda in Hawaii’s 2nd District, was arrested Saturday after a violent altercation at Keawakapu Beach in South Kihei, facing two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening with bail set at $1 million.
According to Maui Police Department, the incident began when a 61-year-old man asked Basin to lower the volume of his music. Basin allegedly threatened the man by implying he had a firearm and would shoot his wife.
A bystander intervened, leading to a physical altercation during which Basin allegedly armed himself with a knife and threatened multiple people before throwing it into the ocean. Police later recovered the knife from the water.
This marks the second major arrest for Basin in less than three months. On May 29, 2026, he was arrested after allegedly entering a Maui County government building in Wailuku while brandishing a firearm and engaging in a verbal altercation with county workers.
According to Civil Beat, police say Basin has been arrested for other incidents of assault and property damage since May. Several people have taken out temporary restraining orders against him, including Maui County Council member Thomas Cook, who said he was worried about his personal safety and that of his staff after Basin disrupted a meeting in May. Cook stated that Basin “became aggressive and confrontational” and “threatened violence against the police” and a council ambassador.
Basin is running in the Democratic primary for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers rural Oahu and all the neighbor islands. The primary is scheduled for August 8, 2026, just four days away. Incumbent Tokuda is seeking a third term and is heavily favored in the race.
In a statement to Civil Beat, Tokuda responded to the arrest: “Violence has no place in our communities or in public service. Anyone holding or seeking office, at any level of government, should be held to a higher standard. Our communities deserve leaders who bring people together, not those who contribute to further division or violence.”
Basin is represented by attorneys Myles Breiner and Brandon Segal. Breiner said the case is pending review by the Maui Prosecutor’s Office and declined to comment further at this time.
Sources
- Honolulu Civil Beat — reported the beach altercation, prior arrests, restraining orders, and Tokuda’s statement
- Hawaii News Now — confirmed the charges and bail amount for the beach incident
- Ballotpedia — documented Basin’s candidacy and the August 8, 2026 Democratic primary
- New York Post — reported details of the May 29 county building incident
