Kidnapping, Killing, and Racial Profiling

This chapter encompasses the first four days of the Fukunaga case starting with the kidnapping and killing of Gill Jamieson. It reviews why and how Gill, as the son of a Hawaiian Trust Co. executive, became Fukunaga’s intended victim. Also discussed are the rapid Haole response to the crime led by the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, the immense publicity given to it by the Honolulu newspapers, and the massive manhunt that was quickly organized to search for Gill and his killers. The chapter also describes the taking into custody of numerous Japanese American young men, who were subject to racial profiling as suspects in the crime, particularly the Jamieson’s former chauffeur, Harry Kaisan, who was beaten by the police to force a confession from him.