A Maui police lieutenant is accused of taking bribes to protect illegal cockfighting and drug trafficking, and his boss is now trying to reassure a shaken public.

• Lieutenant Michael Vaituulala is jailed without bail after a judge denied bail, accused of being paid to shield cockfighting and drug operations.
• Police Chief John Pelletier admitted a personal connection to the lieutenant, who helped scatter his father's ashes and attended family events over several years.
• The department says it was blindsided — the lieutenant showed no sudden spending or lifestyle changes during the two years the alleged bribes took place.
• He had been an FBI task force officer until October 2025, meaning the FBI had fully vetted him.
• Once the federal probe surfaced, he was put on leave, stripped of his badge and gun, and the intelligence unit he ran was shut down.

Outlook: An internal review and an outside look by Hawaii County's police chief are planned, with the chief promising accountability if the accusations hold up.