Honolulu is paying out close to $2 million over a beating by police, a loss for city taxpayers and another black mark for the department.

• The city council approved the settlement for two men who say officers used force on them even though they had done nothing wrong.
• Tevita Tonga and his father were handcuffed on the ground, and Tonga was beaten and stomped on after police mistook him for a suspect.
• The mix-up happened during a nine-hour manhunt on New Year's Day in 2024; the actual suspect was someone else.
• Taxpayers, not the officers, cover the cost of the payout.

Outlook: Expect pressure on Honolulu police over use-of-force training and accountability as the payout becomes public.