Hawaii candidate Kirill Basin charged, held on $1M bail after Maui beach clash

Democratic congressional candidate Kirill Basin was arrested in Maui on Tuesday after allegedly threatening individuals at a beach. The 40-year-old, who is campaigning for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, appeared in a courtroom in handcuffs and was held without bail on two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening. The incident occurred at Keawakapu Beach in South Kihei over the weekend.

The confrontation began when a 61-year-old man approached Basin outside the Mana Kai Maui hotel due to noise complaints about loud music. According to the Maui Police Department, Basin responded by suggesting he had a gun and threatening to shoot the man's wife. Video footage shows Basin becoming increasingly agitated, shouting at people and swinging a beach chair before being knocked unconscious by Kama Homan, a construction worker and mixed martial arts practitioner.

Homan stepped in after hearing Basin threaten older women on the beach. He stated that Basin was becoming increasingly violent and threatening, saying things like "I'm going to hurt you" and "You like scrap." Homan knocked Basin out with two punches, blocking the beach chair swing aimed at his head. He recovered a five-inch switchblade from the ocean, which Basin had thrown into the water during the altercation.

Defense lawyer Brandon Segal strongly contested the knife allegations, arguing that there is no evidence of Basin possessing a knife or firearm in videos of the incident. Basu has a prior criminal record, including an assault case from May involving an argument with county workers. The court ordered Basin to undergo a mental health evaluation after Tuesday's hearing.