The incident happened in front of the Resort Quest Waikiki Beach Hotel just after midnight on Sunday. There were several people around. Nakoa was one who got involved and it cost him his life.

"There were girls involved and they were shouting that's him that's him there."

Tony Wolstenholme has been staying at the Resort Quest Hotel the past two weeks. Sunday morning he was outside smoking and saw the commotion right after two teens stole the woman's purse. He says one of the suspects ran right past him at top speed heading toward Lemon Road.

Hotel workers said the thief tried to hide in the receiving dock. That's when a hotel security guard held him until police arrived.

As for the other suspect, Wolstenholme says he was taken down near the lobby.

"The mob had moved around the corner we moved into the hotel and the guy came running through and the police came chasing after him and the cop grabbed him at the escalator and arrested him," said Wolstenholme.

In the melee, 58-year-old Ned Nakoa was killed trying to step in and catch the suspects.

"(The suspect) was really moving, if a 58 year old guy got in his way he would just run him right over," said Wolstenholme.

The teens in custody are Kelii Acasia, 19, and Benjamin Pada, 18. Both are from Waianae.

"We need tough laws to put criminals in jail."

State Sen. Fred Hemmings tried to pass a law that would have made the punishment more severe for anyone convicted of assaulting a Good Samaritan, but the bill died at the capitol. He plans to introduce it again next session.

"Which would have been hopefully a deterrent from people hitting Good Samaritans or attacking them and if they do put them in jail where they belong," said Hemmings.

The teens have not been charged yet. Police have until 1:00 a.m. Tuesday to officially charge them. If that happens they will be in court later that morning.

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