The family of the man who died alleges police used excessive and unreasonable force after stopping the suspected shoplifter last year.

HPD data says Black, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities experience force at the hands of police at higher rates than white and Asian communities.

Secrecy has long masked serious incidents of misconduct and outright corruption within the ranks of the Honolulu Police Department.

The Legislature couldn’t come to an agreement on House Bill 285 in 2019 but public pressure has forced lawmakers to reconsider it again this session.

Isaiah Pama’s wife, Noelle, says she doesn’t want her husband’s death to be used in the Black Lives Matter movement.

Chief Susan Ballard also told the Honolulu Police Commission that while more bias training would be helpful, Honolulu officers have a “lot less” implicit bias than on the mainland.

A police spokeswoman said the man, who was combative and punching, became unresponsive while being restrained with handcuffs and shackles.

A Civil Beat review found that Honolulu police officers killed at least 29 people in the past decade, at least 11 more cases than are listed in HPD’s use of force reports.

Both states have protected bad cops’ records from public view for decades. The death of George Floyd has renewed the calls for transparency.