Nanakuli Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Fatal DUI Crash
NANAKULI, HI — Joseph Peters-Holokahi, 27, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a DUI crash that killed a mother and her 7-year-old daughter on Feb. 26, 2022.
Peters-Holokahi pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree negligent homicide and one count of first-degree negligent injury after crashing his vehicle into Kelsey Palisbo's parked car on Haleakala Avenue. The crash resulted in the deaths of 38-year-old Palisbo and her daughter, Leah Hanakahi, while her other daughter, 17-year-old Shaylee Hanakahi, sustained serious injuries.
According to Circuit Judge Kevin Souza, Peters-Holokahi will serve a 10-year sentence for each homicide charge concurrently, alongside a subsequent five-year sentence for the negligent injury—totaling 15 years. The state opted not to pursue additional charges, including three counts related to collisions resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Peters-Holokahi has been in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center for over two years, receiving credit for time served. The judge ordered him to pay $23,907.80 in restitution to Shaylee Hanakahi for her injuries and the deaths of her family members.
Peters-Holokahi's prior traffic offenses include multiple speeding citations, raising concerns about his driving history leading to this tragic incident.